Oregon Public Broadcasting

A survey of physicians across Oregon shows that roughly one in five doctors is planning to retire in the next five years. There are about 8,000 physicians in the state. 

The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Medical Association sent out the survey last spring. And they're worried that's not enough doctors to handle an aging population and growing demands on the health care system.  

Sean Kolmer is with the Oregon health authority. He says many doctors turn away new patients, regardless of their insurance coverage.

Sean Kolmer: "What the physicians told us in our survey was for new patients, it doesn't matter who the payer is. They're usually closed or they have very limited access no matter who the payer is."

But finding a physician is the hardest for patients with Medicare. The survey found fifteen percent of doctors in the state won't take on new Medicare patients.

Four percent won't take new patients with commercial insurance.