Magna Carta News
Monday, February 05, 2007
Kiesel Bill Would Boost Medical Care for Elderly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Carter, House Media
Capitol: (405) 557-7421
Contact: State Rep. Ryan Kiesel
Capitol: (405) 557-7372
Seminole: (405) 382-4737
Kiesel Bill Would Boost Medical Care for Elderly
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 5, 2007) - Legislation authored by State Rep.
Ryan Kiesel could increase the number of doctors specializing in
geriatric care in rural Oklahoma.
House Bill 1830, by Kiesel (D-Seminole), creates the Oklahoma
Geriatric Medical Loan Repayment Program. The program would provide
educational loan repayment assistance for up to five Oklahoma licensed
physicians each year who have completed a fellowship training program in
geriatrics, including geropsychiatry. Each loan recipient would be
eligible for $25,000 in annual assistance for up to five years.
In exchange, the doctors receiving financial assistance from the
state would agree to provide medical care in high-need areas of
Oklahoma.
"The demand for access to affordable and quality health care is
rising at an exponential rate and it makes perfect sense for Oklahoma to
provide an incentive for medical students to specialize in fields where
the demand will continue to increase and then, when they graduate, to
give them a further incentive to serve patients in high-need areas
including rural Oklahoma. The quality of healthcare an Oklahoman
receives should not depend on what part of the state they live in," said
Kiesel.
A recent report by the Oklahoma State University Center for
Rural Health highlights the need for more doctors in rural Oklahoma. The
report indicated residents of rural counties in Oklahoma experience
greater mortality and poor medical conditions.
Kiesel noted that the average age of someone living in rural
Oklahoma is also much older than the average age in urban areas,
creating a strong demand for geriatric care.
According to the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural
Health report, 15 percent of the population in rural areas is age 65 or
older, compared to just 11 percent in urban areas.
At the same time, there is just one primary care physician for
every 1,535 people in rural counties, compared to one doctor for every
740 people in an urban area.
"Oklahoma's aging population will result in a greater demand for
geriatric medicine and it is imperative that we have doctors with this
specialty practicing in all areas of the state," said Kiesel.
If House Bill 1830 becomes law, Kiesel predicted the state could
begin improving its ranking in health reports.
"One of the primary factors driving the costs of health care is the
overall health of our population. A healthier Oklahoma is an important
part of any plan to control the costs of health insurance and provide
all Oklahomans options for affordable health care," said Kiesel.
House Bill 1830 has been assigned to the House Public Health
Committee where it now awaits a hearing.
-30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Carter, House Media
Capitol: (405) 557-7421
Contact: State Rep. Ryan Kiesel
Capitol: (405) 557-7372
Seminole: (405) 382-4737
Kiesel Bill Would Boost Medical Care for Elderly
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 5, 2007) - Legislation authored by State Rep.
Ryan Kiesel could increase the number of doctors specializing in
geriatric care in rural Oklahoma.
House Bill 1830, by Kiesel (D-Seminole), creates the Oklahoma
Geriatric Medical Loan Repayment Program. The program would provide
educational loan repayment assistance for up to five Oklahoma licensed
physicians each year who have completed a fellowship training program in
geriatrics, including geropsychiatry. Each loan recipient would be
eligible for $25,000 in annual assistance for up to five years.
In exchange, the doctors receiving financial assistance from the
state would agree to provide medical care in high-need areas of
Oklahoma.
"The demand for access to affordable and quality health care is
rising at an exponential rate and it makes perfect sense for Oklahoma to
provide an incentive for medical students to specialize in fields where
the demand will continue to increase and then, when they graduate, to
give them a further incentive to serve patients in high-need areas
including rural Oklahoma. The quality of healthcare an Oklahoman
receives should not depend on what part of the state they live in," said
Kiesel.
A recent report by the Oklahoma State University Center for
Rural Health highlights the need for more doctors in rural Oklahoma. The
report indicated residents of rural counties in Oklahoma experience
greater mortality and poor medical conditions.
Kiesel noted that the average age of someone living in rural
Oklahoma is also much older than the average age in urban areas,
creating a strong demand for geriatric care.
According to the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural
Health report, 15 percent of the population in rural areas is age 65 or
older, compared to just 11 percent in urban areas.
At the same time, there is just one primary care physician for
every 1,535 people in rural counties, compared to one doctor for every
740 people in an urban area.
"Oklahoma's aging population will result in a greater demand for
geriatric medicine and it is imperative that we have doctors with this
specialty practicing in all areas of the state," said Kiesel.
If House Bill 1830 becomes law, Kiesel predicted the state could
begin improving its ranking in health reports.
"One of the primary factors driving the costs of health care is the
overall health of our population. A healthier Oklahoma is an important
part of any plan to control the costs of health insurance and provide
all Oklahomans options for affordable health care," said Kiesel.
House Bill 1830 has been assigned to the House Public Health
Committee where it now awaits a hearing.
-30-
