Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

J. Howard DeHoff, MD, of South Whitehall Township, is a primary care internist.

Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

The House GOP is gloating about the recent passage of HR 1216, which rescinds the funds obligated by the Affordable Care Act for training much-needed primary care physicians, but millions of Americans will suffer if the Senate follows suit. The shortage of primary care physicians has already reached crisis levels in many areas -- nearly every county in Pennsylvania is experiencing a shortage of primary care providers. And according to primary care physician Dr. Howard DeHoff, "by 2025, there will be a shortage of 35,000 to 44,000 primary care physicians leaving more than 66 million Americans without access to quality care." The result, he worries, will be millions of people at risk for heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, depression, domestic violence, tobacco addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, arthritis, influenza -- and without quality care. What's the old saying -- "an ounce of prevention..."

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