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. 2016 Oct 25;14(1):38-44.
doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2016.10.016. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Attitude of hand surgeons toward Affordable Care Act: A survey of members of American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Valeriy Shubinets  1 , Patrick A Gerety  1 , Christopher J Pannucci  2 , Paris D Butler  1 , Michael N Mirzabeigi  1 , Benjamin Chang  1 , L Scott Levin  3 , Ines C Lin  1
Affiliations

Attitude of hand surgeons toward Affordable Care Act: A survey of members of American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Valeriy Shubinets et al. J Orthop. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine current attitude of hand surgeons toward the Affordable Care Act (ACA). An electronic survey was sent to members of American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) to examine their attitude toward the Affordable Care Act. 974 ASSH members responded to the survey (33% response rate). The majority of respondents were male (89%), trained in orthopedic surgery (81%), and in private practice (75%). 41% of respondents rated their knowledge of the ACA as average. Respondents disagreed that the ACA would improve healthcare in the United States (median 2, mean 2.06, scale 1-5), while agreeing that the ACA would decrease reimbursements specific to hand surgery (median 4, mean 4.11).

Keywords: ACA; Affordable Care Act; Hand surgeons; Obamacare; Survey.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of survey questions.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Demographic data. (a) Geographic distribution of responses (areas highlighted in color provided the highest number of responses). (b–e) Demographic data based on gender (b), training background (c), practice environment (d), and years in practice (e) with % values representing the percentage of total responses. NR = no response.(For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
ACA knowledge and preparation. (a) Knowledge of the ACA. (b) Training on the ACA. (c) Preparation by major professional organizations. (d) Preparatory materials. 251 of the surveyed members responded to the question in part d. NR = no response.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Surgeon response regarding the ACA. ASSH members were asked whether ACA will (a) improve health care in the United States, (b) decrease reimbursements for hand surgery, (c) improve access to emergent hand surgery, and (d) improve access to elective hand surgery.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Impact of the ACA on (a) retirement plans and (b) practice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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