Olympic Medical Center (OMC) is in financial crisis and that means all of us are in crisis.
We are an isolated senior citizen community in need of more, not less, health care.
Decisions on medical care must be based on human need not profit greed.
OMC lost $7.9 million first quarter.
Labor costs and a chronic shortfall in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are blamed and shrinkage in the number of patients with private insurance.
We need permanent staff, not travelers.
That means competitive pay and bonuses.
Job seekers have declined job offers here for lack of affordable houses or apartments.
Our lawmakers must fight for higher Medicare reimbursement even if the Republicans try to block it.
If the Medicare Trust Fund needs additional revenues, lift the cap on wealthy taxpayers so they pay their fair share in Medicare taxes.
The money can be used to increase Medicare reimbursements and also to extend benefits and reduce out of pocket costs for patients.
OMC speaks of redundancies.
I was treated at OMC’s Sequim walk-in clinic for a toothache when my dentist office was closed, given pain killers and antibiotics.
The doctor was a life-saver.
The waiting room was crowded last week when I went for a checkup with my gastroenterologist.
That walk-in clinic is not redundant.
United Healthcare, Amazon, and other profiteers are privatizing through Medicare Advantage and ACO REACH.
Our own Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has the answer: Stop the privateers, Medicare for all.
Tim Wheeler
Acting Chair, Voices for Health & Healing
Sequim