title: Attitudes of Washington State physicians toward health care reform.
abstract: Attitudes of Washington State physicians about health care reform and about specific elements of managed competition and single-payer proposals were evaluated. Opinions about President Clinton's reform plan were also assessed. Washington physicians (n = 1,000) were surveyed from October to November 1993, and responses were collected through January 1994; responses were anonymous. The response rate was 80%. Practice characteristics of respondents did not differ from other physicians in the state. Of physicians responding, 80% favored substantial change in the current system, 43% favored managed competition, and 40% preferred a single-payer system. Of physicians responding, 64% thought President Clinton's proposal would not adequately address current problems. Reduced administrative burden, a central element of single-payer plans, was identified by 89% of respondents as likely to improve the current system. Other elements of reform plans enjoyed less support. More procedure-oriented specialists than primary care physicians favored leaving the current system unchanged (28% versus 8%, P < .001). While physicians favor health care reform, there is no consensus on any single plan. It seems unlikely that physicians will be able to speak with a single voice during the current debates on health care reform.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Malter
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008511:Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D013038:Specialization; D014861:Washington