Working solutions to a doctor shortage in Casper, and throughout the state, have many people stumped.

"I don't know who is in a position to do the problem solving. But as far as our community is concerned, this is a crisis," said Donna Fox, a retired nurse who, along with her husband, is searching for a new physician in Casper.

"People are willing to go volunteer in Africa. I wish they'd think about Wyoming as a Third World country and volunteer here," she said, half-joking. "There's a lot of work to be done."

In reality, volunteer medical workers may not be in great supply, but student training programs are helping augment health care service in Casper.

The Community Health Center of Central Wyoming is one of few practices in Casper that has been successful in recruiting doctors in the past year. The federally funded health center, which is designed to provide health care for underserved populations and currently is accepting all new patients, operates with nine full-time physicians and 26 University of Wyoming medical residents.

Interim CEO Beth Eveland said she believes the reason for the influx of doctors is two-fold.

"I think the reason Community Health Centers have luck in recruiting, especially in Casper or Wyoming, is because (doctors) look at us as a group practice. I think that for a new, young, career-oriented physician, Community Health Centers are appealing because of that," Eveland said. "We're (also) able to offer them health insurance and dental coverage if they choose, and because we are a federally funded qualified health center, we also are able to cover the majority of their malpractice insurance."

Eveland said she hopes that the Casper center, as well as another Community Health Center slated to open in Cheyenne in the coming months, will help alleviate the doctor shortage.

"It's becoming a crisis situation," she said. "By having the Community Health Center, it helps relieve the stress for our general population."

Long-term reforms

However, Community Health Centers likely aren't the whole solution to the problem.

Many groups are lobbying for long-term reforms to the state's health care system.

One effort already in place is the Wyoming Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which was approved last year by the Legislature. The program, which is accepting applications this week through March 11, offers loan repayment of up to $30,000 per year to 10 physicians or dentists for three years and of $10,000 per year for three years to allied health care professionals, such as pharmacists, nurse practitioners and laboratory technicians.

The Legislature also is considering a number of health care bills this session, including two that would develop a medical review panel to judge the validity of malpractice claims and one that would regulate malpractice insurance rates for the state's doctors.

In his State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Dave Freudenthal called for legislative help for doctors paying high malpractice premium rates.

"Medical liability insurance remains a serious problem. If you have any doubt, ask the several thousand patients in Casper who are about to lose their health care provider," he said.

"While we await the outcome of the debate at the federal level, we should consider state participation in extended liability coverage for noneconomic damage judgments between $350,000 and $1 million.

"I am not terribly fond of further state involvement in this issue, but I have not seen an alternative. We cannot simply throw up our hands in frustration and ignore this problem," Freudenthal said.

Lobbying groups such as Citizens for Real Insurance Reform and the Natrona County Medical Society also have ideas.

Citizens for Real Insurance Reform suggested in a press release last week that the state consider opening its doors to foreign doctors; consider new recruitment and training programs for rural doctors; and review its Medicaid reimbursement schedule.

The Natrona County Medical Society said in press release Monday that it supports a medical review panel, so long as it is state funded and mandatory for all cases.

Fox says she doesn't know what the solution will be; she just hopes there will be one.

"I haven't got any profound insights, but we've got our own little great tsunami flooding in this town. I can't see how we can grow, how people will move here and stay if they can't have medical attention," she said.

"We've lost more wonderful doctors. I don't know if younger people appreciate the impact this is having on an awful lot of my friends. As much as anything, we're helpless."

Staff writer Jenni Dillon can be reached at (307) 266-0619 or Jenni.Dillon@casperstartribune.net.