News and briefs: ACA makes young physicians worried about future

More than half of physicians age 40 or younger say they are pessimistic about the future of healthcare in the United States, according to a survey from The Physicians Foundation. The Affordable Care Act topped the list of reasons for this concern, with 49% of respondents saying the new healthcare law will hurt their medical practice.

“Through this survey and our ongoing work with practicing physicians, the Foundation has noted a growing sense among new doctors that they will never experience the autonomy and independence of previous generations. If you combine these factors with the overall uncertainty driven by healthcare reform, it is easy to appreciate the confusion and frustration of young practitioners,” says Dr. Walker Ray, vice president of The Physicians Committee and chair of the Research Committee in an article from Business Wire.

Physicians also cited increased regulatory burdens and medical liability insurance premiums as reasons for their pessimism. Only 35% of new physicians are “highly satisfied” with their practice arrangement.

To read more of the survey results, click here.