Healthcare is a required must for many American citizens, but not every American has the same opportunity to access it. Low-income citizens have no other choice but to sign up for state coverage. The state coverage does not provide the quality of healthcare as private insurances do.
Dr. Ernesto Barnes M.D. has been a doctor in the United States for more than 30 years. Dr. Barnes has seen the many political policies make their way in the medical field. He provided his insight on the issue.
Q: What inspired you to become a doctor?
A: Well, I come from a family of doctors. My dad and my grandfather were both doctors and my mother was a pediatrician. So, I knew that if I did not become a doctor, I would be in the healthcare industry one way or another.
Q: Do you still find your job pleasureful as when you first started?
A: Of course, I live by the saying: “if you love what you do, then, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I find joy in my career and see it more as a lifestyle than a job.
Q: What would you say is the least favorite part of the job?
A: It would definitely be not achieving my personal goal. I try to make sure every person I see has a great experience after the visit. However, it does not always work like that and people can’t further their treatment because of the cost of certain procedures or even medicines. It really puts a toll on you when the woman with diabetes can’t afford her medication and goes without it.
Q: Do you feel like prices for medical procedures and medicines are too expensive?
A: That’s a really tough question because when it comes to specialists, they spent their entire young adult life perfecting their craft and so I believe they should be the highest-paid in the medical industry, but, then, that causes the price to go up. However, my view on medicine pricing is pretty clear cut, the insurance companies could do more to save their client money.
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