Two area Doctor's leaving the area

The Medicare payment rates for this area are much lower than that of Birmingham or Nashville. That makes it hard for physicians to make any real money unless they're specialists like cardiologists or nephrologists.

And there is so much Medicaid in this state because so many lower income people are unwilling to properly take care of their families by purchasing healthcare insurance.  But the same bunch has money for cigarettes, beer and a new tattoo on Friday night.

My physicians are of high quality and they won't even talk to a patient on Medicaid.  Heck, they'll barely service a new Medicare patient unless he has a good Supplement policy.

I had a bad experience with Dr Raju. My father's insurance company referred him to Dr Raju. In spite of a recent colonoscopy, less than 3mos, he insisted on my father having another one and refused to talk about differential diagnosis and did not even bother to do a good faith physical exam. As soon as his WNL colonoscopy came back he made it very plain that he had no further interest in trying to determine what his gastrointestinal problem was. There is no money in office visits. The money is in performing procedures. Raju ran a colonoscopy mill pure and simple.

After one visit to my primary care physician, on my dime,  dad was diagnosed with Celiac disease and started on treatment with a huge improvement in quality of life.

I for one think his leaving the Shoals will be no loss and maybe even an improvement. This is just my opinion so take for what it is worth.

I think both are leaving for personal family issues, and to be closer to family, at least this is what I have heard.