Moss WizardMar 18
Lol I can’t get a primary care doctor at any “real” clinic in #PDX or any city within reasonable driving distance, so I use Zoomcare for primary. Every few months they change their policies about which of their employees and locations is allowed to be a “primary care”. Today I miraculously got the same PC as last year, at a nearby location—but on arrival they told me I would have to make separate appointments *on separate days* for each different concern I wanted to inquire about. For example I couldn’t get a prescription renewed on the same day I get an annual exam. *jazz hands* #healthcare!
Show threadahimsa

@Moss My family and friends have all had a hard time finding primary care doctors in the Portland area. And then I read news articles like this one (about doctors who take medicare) so I know it's not just me -

https://www.wweek.com/news/health/2026/03/10/new-data-shows-its-particularly-hard-to-find-a-primary-care-doctor-in-portland/

But I did NOT know that some doctors would not even renew a prescription at the same appointment for another issue! WTF?

Anyway, I'm so sorry you're going through this.

#PDX #Portland #Healthcare

New Data Shows It’s Particularly Hard to Find a Primary Care Doctor in Portland

“If I were a leader at the state level, at the local level, I would be really interested in trying to understand why Portland is such an outlier.”

Willamette Week
Mar 19 at 1:33amWeb
Show threadMoss WizardMar 19
@ahimsa_pdx it’s especially weird for Zoomcare to be so restrictive, since everyone is desperate for a PC. Zoomcare could rake in endless cash by being *more* accessible.
Show threaddeer witchMar 19

@ahimsa_pdx @Moss
you might already know this, and it does ofc require spoons but:

There are legal reqs for how soon insurance cos are required to get us each type of appointment.

Sadly they only care abt money, so making a small stink your issue is urgent & they aren’t meeting their legal reqs often makes them realize getting you a Dr out of network asap is usually cheaper than you in the hospital, which is cheaper than a lawsuit.

(Cont)

Show threaddeer witchMar 19

@ahimsa_pdx @Moss

This info usually called Access to Care Standards on insurer’s websites.

Last time I did this was in CA so I don’t know fully but I *think* this might be OR’s law, my brain fog is brutal this week tho

https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_410-141-3515

So sorry y’all are dealing with this. It’s brutal in here in semi-rural OR too esp for specialists any seniors go to & I worry it’s only gonna get worse as healthcare providers are a big LC demo ):

OAR 410-141-3515 – Network Adequacy

(1) MCEs shall maintain and monitor a network of participating providers that is sufficient in number, provider type, and geographic distribution to…

OregonLaws
Show threadMoss WizardMar 19
@moss @ahimsa_pdx thank you!!
Show threaddeer witchMar 19

@Moss ps they don’t owe you a specific dr, they owe you a dr of a certain PA/RNP/MD/DO depend what kind of appt. Knowing *exactly* what apt category you are & how long they have, in adv will help the convo a lot

IME when they authorized out of network was a large clinic w many providers, so I still had some choice in the matter. They also might get you higher level of in network care when avail I’ve heard

YMMV here but be your best advocate. 💜

Show threaddeer witchMar 19
@Moss sending lots of love 💚💚💚
Show threademeritrixMar 19

@ahimsa_pdx @Moss

oh yikes. this is the sort of thing that coerces people into the 'advantage' plans even though all the reports suggest those are more likely to deny coverage. but how can one be 'covered' if one can't even get seen?

Show threadPete's Mom 🍉 🇺🇦 ☮️Mar 22
@ahimsa_pdx @Moss
The "one issue per appointment" garbage should be illegal. Its not just anti science (our body parts work together to make our body function) it drastically increases costs of just trying to receive basic care: transportation, childcare, missed work, all on top of copays and coinsurance bs AND appointments are often months apart 🤬🤯
Show threadMoss WizardMar 22
@Petesmom @ahimsa_pdx 1000% agreed. And in fact they finally did agree to let me handle *one* extra issue at my exam because they could mark it as “preventative care”, but only after I said out loud that this restriction seemed illegal.