The Puerto Rico Healthcare Crisis.
The Puerto Rico Healthcare Crisis.
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2015 Nov 9;
Authors: Roman J
Abstract
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a U.S. organized non-incorporated territory with a population of over 3.5 million U.S. citizens. The island has been the focus of much attention due to the recent default on its debt (estimated at over $70 billion), high poverty rates, and increasing unemployment. Less attention, however, has been given to the island's healthcare system, which many believe is on the verge of collapsing. Healthcare makes up 20% of the Puerto Rican economy and this crisis affects reimbursement rates for physicians, while promoting the disintegration of the island's healthcare infrastructure. A major contributor of this crisis relates to a disparity in federal funding provided to support the island's healthcare system when compared to that provided to the states in the mainland and Hawaii. Puerto Rico receives less federal funding for healthcare than the other 50 states and the District of Columbia even though it pays its share of social security and Medicare. To make matters worse, the U.S. Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) is planning to soon implement another 11 percent cut in Medical Advantage reimbursements. This disparity in support for healthcare is considered responsible for ~$25 billion of Puerto Rico's total debt. The impact of these events on the health of Puerto Ricans in the island cannot be entirely predicted, but the loss of healthcare providers and diminished access to care are a certainty, while quality care will suffer leading to serious implications for those with chronic medical disorders including respiratory disease.
PMID: 26551268 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]