Hawaii ranked 2nd in nation for health care delivery (Honolulu: insurance, cost of)

[nullgeo]

Vermont Tops, Mississippi Last in Health Care Scorecard - ABC News

[HonuMan]

Great -- but how can this be? For the past few years, I've been reading bout Hawaii's healthcare crisis, particularly in the outer islands: doctors leaving the state in droves, the lack of specialists on the outer islands, how newcomers can't find a primary-care physician even if they have insurance, and so on. Yet, in this survey, Hawaii is in the top quartile for "access to healthcare." Have things been improving?

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by HonuMan

Great -- but how can this be? For the past few years, I've been reading bout Hawaii's healthcare crisis, particularly in the outer islands: doctors leaving the state in droves, the lack of specialists on the outer islands, how newcomers can't find a primary-care physician even if they have insurance, and so on. Yet, in this survey, Hawaii is in the top quartile for "access to healthcare." Have things been improving?

You got me bubba ... I read the article this morning and my mini-brain did its version of a hiccup and said "huh?" .. thought I'd throw it out there to see what kinda hiccups others in Hawaii got from it

[nwcountrygal]

I am confused also this is the Hawaii I have heard about. Guess Maui and Honolulu are good but?? Haven't heard this from someone on the islands.

[mogon]

There is a sense in which it's very difficult to compare Hawai`i with any other state in this regard (except, in its own way, Alaska). The quality of health care on O`ahu (and to a lesser extent, Maui) is going to skew a "statewide" rating. But in a state where it is an airplane ride to much of the state, the statewide rating is much less helpful. Health care on Moloka`i (or even on the Big Island) is going to be much, much different than on O`ahu.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by mogon

There is a sense in which it's very difficult to compare Hawai`i with any other state in this regard (except, in its own way, Alaska). The quality of health care on O`ahu (and to a lesser extent, Maui) is going to skew a "statewide" rating. But in a state where it is an airplane ride to much of the state, the statewide rating is much less helpful. Health care on Moloka`i (or even on the Big Island) is going to be much, much different than on O`ahu.

You said a mouthful there in the last sentence ... true. Although, I must say that I personally had an emergency on Moloka'i some years back and the care at the hospital was swift and excellent in every respect.

[mdand3boys]

Health care delivery, in this situation means people with insurance or access to health care thru other means such as Medicaid or free clinics.

Hawaii could not possibly rank second in the quality of the health care that is accessible.

[nwcountrygal]

I posted question in the Alaska forum of how accessible health care is to compare to Hawaii. It was interesting to read about cost of medivac to hosipitals and how many places ask for $$ up front even for surgerys before performing services. Many responded they go to Seattle or lower 48 for procdures to be done. Medicaid is being cut everywhere by doctors. Talked to a nurse in Alaska that said a patient that needed B-12 shots everyday they were having to turn away, sad, she said medicaid paid a whopping total of .12 cents for the shots that doesn't even cover the syringe..