Letter: Enough doctors to treat all Americans?

Re: “Healthcare reform gets an up-close examination,” Sept. 26. There was one very important point not mentioned in the article about an informational meeting telling the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Little has been said about the impact on doctors. The Affordable Care Act, which will mainly take effect on Jan. 1, 2014, is opening up health insurance coverage to approximately 33 million uninsured Americans.

It raises the question: Are there enough doctors to treat those who sign up, along with their current patients? My answer is no. Besides the number of doctors retiring from the medical profession, there are other who say they are retiring early because of the Affordable Care Act and the reduced payments doctors will receive from this government-controlled health program.

It means far more patients and a much smaller number of doctors to treat them, adding up to a congested situation at medical offices.

Don Mazen
Glendale