All signs point to a favorable hiring market for the health care industry in the second half of this year, and a culmination of Congressional activity is more than likely responsible.

Various health system reform legislation has provided an influx of money to support job growth and payment updates for physicians. It also is assumed health system reform will increase the number of insured, which in turn will increase the demand for medical attention and, consequently, health care professionals who can provide it.

As such, new physicians and expanding practices will need to hire support staff, including medical coders and billers.

Hospitals and physician practices are still exercising caution, however. Approximately 3,600 jobs were added in physician offices in the first six months of this year compared to 8,000 new jobs in the first half of 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The American Medical Association (AMA) says unstable Medicare payment rates brought on by the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula is to blame for this slow growth.

American Medical News has more on this story.

2 Responses to “Health Reform Expected to Expand Job Opportunities”

1. David George Says:
   August 27th, 2010 at 9:04 am

   The number of new hires in physcian offices concerns me. The number of students graduating from allied health programs must dwarf that number. I would be interested to know the number of jobs added in hospitals or, if possible, the entire medical industry. If I were a student I was be somewhat disenchanted to read these numbers.

   David George
   http://www.accuclaim.com

2. Betsy Beatty Says:
   September 9th, 2010 at 8:38 am

   Healthcare reform may have increased the number of insured people, but the copayments and coinsurances owed by patients has gone up. We are seeing patients who will not come for routine care because they don’t want to have to pay. I do not believe that there will be a big increase in jobs.

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