HEALTH CARE IN CRISIS:
Low-income patients at risk
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Medical payments force doctors to leave area
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
THURSTON COUNTY - Payments for medical care in Washington state are
so low that a "white coat flight" has developed as doctors leave the state or
retire early.
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Clinics for low-income patients try to fill gap
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
YELM - Ranae Sharp knows only too well how unsteady the health system is
for low-income families in Washington.
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Current system an 'accident of history'
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
OLYMPIA - Paying for health care was not always so complicated in Washington and the nation.
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Health care glossary
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
Medicaid: A joint federal and state program that provides medical assistance
to people with low incomes and limited assets. It is available to people who
qualify for welfare and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of
disabilities, and is distributed through programs such as Healthy Options and
the Basic Health Plan, among others. In 1999, 955,660 Washington residents
received some kind of assistance through these programs.
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How contracts work, proposed budget
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
Doctors aren't paid directly by the state to care for Medicaid and other
state-pay patients, including state employees.
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Low-income clinic locations and hours
Originally published Feb. 18, 2001
The new Sea Mar Community Health Center serves people with little or no
health or dental insurance on a sliding fee scale. The clinic is still in the process
of hiring physicians, so patients may wait for noncritical health needs. Here's
how to reach the clinic:
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Congressional advisory panel finds
troubles with funding
Originally published Feb. 19, 2001
WASHINGTON - Constant tinkering from members of Congress has made
the Medicare program for older Americans worse off now than it was four
years ago when lawmakers began trying to fix it, according to experts on a
congressional advisory panel.
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Managed care has unintended
consequences
Originally published Feb. 19, 2001
WASHINGTON - Responding to criticism that Medicare payments favor
retirees living in Sunbelt states such as Arizona and Florida, Congress altered
a funding formula to reduce the disparities with a goal of attracting more
managed-care companies to underserved areas.
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