The Abercrombie-Ige Agenda Isn't Working: High Cost Of Living Leads To Doctor Shortage, Wait Times

News Release from Hawaii Republican Party

HONOLULU (September 8, 2014) - A new report over the weekend on the growing doctor shortage is just the latest sign that the Abercrombie-Ige policy agenda is not working. The high cost of living affects all Hawaii families, and now it is contributing to a doctor shortage as well.

"Senator Ige has had four years to enact the Abercrombie-Ige policy agenda, but the cost of living in Hawaii is higher than ever. As a result, Hawaii families and seniors struggling with these costs are also finding alarming wait times just to get access to medical care." --Ted Kwong, Hawaii Republican Party Communications Advisor

BACKGROUND:

The High Cost Of Living Is A Crucial Factor In The Growing Doctor Shortage In Hawaii. "'They're already short of physicians and our salaries are lower and cost of living is higher so we tend to lose half of the new physicians who come here within a couple years,' [Kelley Withy, head of the Hawai‘i/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center] said. 'Because we don't have enough physicians, we don't have as robust a medical community for them to come into. Some of our hospitals are not updated so they may not be as attractive to physicians, therefore we depend on our locally grown ones but we're not growing enough.'" (Kristen Consillio, "Isles face widening shortage," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9/6/14)

This Leads To Growing Wait Times To Get Medical Care. "It took three months for Hilo residents David and Helen Bradbury to find a primary care doctor when the Oregon retirees moved to the islands four years ago. 'We had about two or three refusals before we found one that would accept our Medicare and TRICARE insurance,' said David Bradbury, 77. 'They just weren't taking any more of that insurance or weren't taking it at all or were slowing down (their practices).'" (Kristen Consillio, "Isles face widening shortage," Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9/6/14)

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