There are several issues. I, like Bert am both a Pediatrician and take a high amount of Public Aid. I have seen lots of referrals come when other offices either stop taking Public Aid or close.
Overall, I take it with the flow, but currently my NP is going on maternity leave, so... I have chosen to close the practice to new patients until she returns.
Bert, the majority of patients will find a new doc in the next 6 months, most need school PEs now and the issue will be different very soon. Those that chose not to follow you when you left the other practice have no loyalty to you, but you are a known quantity. Thus, I would recommend ONLY take new patients who are either newborns, relatives of current patients or exceptions that you choose. In six months, you can open the practice back up. You could limit it to no medicaid, this may have the same effect, but you may find that temporarily closing the practice may give you some breathing room.
