Physician salaries grew in '08 despite recession

Good for them! They saw declines in their salaries of 30-50% over the last 5-7 years. Now there are fewer students and the need to increase salaries. What goes around comes around. When a person only gets 6 minutes to evaluate a patient as dictated by managed care companies, something's got to be wrong.

Nobody in managed care "dictates time." It is astounding the level of understanding by most Americans of the healthcare system. Physicians receive "higher" reimbursement from Managed Care companies than Medicare...about 20% more on average, albeit lower than Medicare in a handful of states. So, the "cost shifting" to employers and the "low governmental" funding forces physicians to maximize productivity. Having stated all that, how will Obama's plan work when the system is already taxed for productivity? The entire "funding" mechanism for physicians by medicare and managed care companies will need to be changed so that physicians are no reimbursed for performing procedures. Either fix the funding mechanisms or let Uncle Sam pay them a salary and do away with employer healthcare. I'm sure physician's current salary vs. government pay will attract even more people to their line of work (sarcasm). And I am sure people working for employers with good benefits will be pleased to receive less rich benefits (additional sarcasm) now that they are on a governmental plan. Canadian healthcare is so good we have people crossing the border for simple MRI's...

Primary care is no good a profession in times of recession. Patients will finally, reduce in numbers. who would throw money at a family doctor for a routine checkup. The times of luxuries are over at least for some years from now.
Cost of heath care is too high especially in this economy. If that be the trend, both patients and physicians will suffer