"Time to Stop Tyranny" is Theme of Spring Issue of Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

TUCSON, Ariz., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The editorial by New York neurologist Lawrence R. Huntoon, M.D., Ph.D., sets the theme for the spring issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons: "It's Time to Stop Tyranny in Medicine."

An onslaught of costly new requirements is facing physicians, tied to cuts in Medicare payments for noncompliance. These include e-prescribing, "meaningful use" standards for electronic medical records, reporting to the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), and enrollment in "Maintenance of Certification." There is a 100% fee cut for physicians who do not use the complex International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 coding system by October 2014. Medicare will simply not process claims.

These regulations are like "Sisyphus's Stone in Healthcare Hades," writes AAPS president Juliette Madrigal-Dersch, M.D.

The Accountable Care Act (ACA or "ObamaCare") also "creates a feudal system called Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)," Huntoon writes, "whereby the 'lords' (hospitals and other entities) will be provided with global bundled payments for care, which they will then dole out in small portions to the physician 'serfs' who actually provide the care."

It is not known at this point what rationing system the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) set up by ACA will use, Huntoon writes, but the Complete Lives System is available. This discriminates against persons younger than 15 or older than 40 years.

The rationing model now used by managed care, based on a provision in provider contracts, is discussed in this issue by Frank Lobb.

In the name of public health, oppressive rules and laws are being imposed on patients and medical professionals alike. Economics professor Michael Marlow discusses "anti-obesity" measures such as New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempted ban on sodas in containers larger than 16 ounces. Ethel Hoover, R.N., tells how she was fired after 22 years of dedicated service for being a conscientious objector to influenza vaccine.

Physicians are turning away from managed-care contracts and Medicare. Steven Horwitz, D.O., tells how he broke his addiction to third-party payment, including Medicare. More physicians are interested in disenrolling from Medicare. Can Medicare conscript and fine them if they then accept any payment from a Medicare beneficiary, asks Susan Hansen, M.D.

What will happen if the oppression is not lifted? "Atlas Turns Inward" is the likely answer, according to Arthur Robinson, Ph.D.

The Journal is an official publication of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a national organization representing physicians in all specialties, which was founded in 1943.

SOURCE Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)