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 threadahimsaMar 19

@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
Show threaddeer witch

@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)

Mar 19 at 2:09amWeb
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 💚💚💚