Medicare

A Closer Look

Currently Washington state ranks 42nd in Medicare reimbursements per beneficiary.

Average "per beneficiary" payment:

New York	$6,924
National Average	$5,490
Washington State	$3,921

As a Result, Patients Can't Get the Access They Need

Many doctors are no longer accepting new Medicare patients.

• Nationwide: 17 percent of family doctors refused to take new Medicare patients in 2000. (American Academy of Family Physicians)
  
• Washington State: 57 percent of physicians responding to a survey are either limiting their Medicare patients or dropping Medicare patients from their practice. (source: Washington State Medical Association)

Other doctors are retiring early or leaving our state.

• Since 1998, the number of Washington State Medical Association members leaving Washington State has increased by 31% (WSMA, 2002)
  
• Each time a physician leaves, about 2000 patients must find a new caregiver.

As a result, Washington seniors on Medicare are having a hard time even finding a doctor who will see them.

The Impact Goes Beyond Those On Medicare

It's not just seniors on Medicare who are feeling the consequences. With fewer doctors available, more patients are showing up in the emergency room. As a result, emergency rooms are becoming more crowded, and frequently overcrowded.

Overcrowded Emergency Rooms in Washington state:

• 91% of small hospitals and 100% of large hospitals reported overcrowding.
  
• 76% of large hospitals reported overcrowding 2-3 times a week or more often. (Source: Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Room Physicians, Task Force On ED Overcrowding And Diversions, Spring-Summer, 2001)

Our Health Care System is Already Stretched Thin

Many factors are contributing to the problem:

• Many patients don't have insurance or don't have enough insurance.
  
• Clinics and hospitals are closing.
  
• There is a shortage of nurses and other professionals. "Nurses Marching Out of Profession." - Seattle P-I 6/4/02
  
• Medical costs are growing along with the cost of prescription drugs and insurance.
  
• Overhead is up, and paperwork is consuming more staff time and expense.

In addition, other reimbursement issues are squeezing Washington providers including low reimbursement rates for patients on Medicaid (low income). In 2002, Medicare’s doctor payments were cut by 5.4 percent nationwide. An additional 4.4 percent reduction was slated to go into effect in 2003, but was prevented by congressional action.

In addition, because many private insurers base their rates on Medicare payments, Washington providers are hit further. As a result, many communities are having trouble recruiting new doctors to serve in Washington state.

Our Health Infrastructure Matters to Patients and Communities

• Health care employs more than 180,000 workers in Washington state -- that's 7 percent of all Washington employment (WSMA, 1999)
  
• For every physician who leaves practice, 5 health care workers lose their jobs (WSMA)

This Disparity is Unfair

All Americans make the same contributions into the Medicare system during their working years. Unfortunately, when seniors turn to Medicare for the care they need, they find that the access to care varies -- depending on where they retire. Senator Murray believes that seniors should get the care they need wherever they choose to spend their retirement years.