In addition to The White House, numerous organizations that impact the healthcare industry have offices headquartered or located in Washington, D.C.
Some organizations and agencies with a presence in the nation's capital include HHS, CMS, the American Health Quality Association, the World Health Organization, the Global Health Council, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and The Public Health Foundation.
As home to so many influential healthcare organizations, in addition to playing host to the nation's political leaders, the District has a great deal of influence on the healthcare industry.
The following 10 facts offer some insight into healthcare delivery in the nation's capital.
1. All total, Washington, D.C., healthcare expenditures add up to $6.2 billion, roughly 0.3 percent of the United States' total healthcare expenditures.1
2. Adjusted expenses per inpatient day at Washington, D.C. hospitals total about $2,596 which is more than the national average of $2,090.1
3. Roughly 46 percent Washington, D.C., residents have health insurance through their employers. Nearly a quarter are insured by Medicaid (24 percent), the highest percentage in the country. Additional sources of health insurance for residents include Medicare (12 percent) and other private insurers (9 percent). Roughly 8 percent of its population is uninsured.1
4. The average cost of personal health spending per capita in the District is $10,349, higher than any state, whereas the average cost of personal health spending per capita in the U.S. is $6,815.
5. There are about 6,151 professionally active physicians in Washington, D.C., 2,685 of whom are primary care physicians while 3,466 are specialty physicians.1
6. Washington, D.C. has 14 designated primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas.1
7. The capital was given a score of five out of 10 for infectious disease outbreak preparedness along with nine other states, according to a report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
8. There are eight non-federal, short-term, acute-care hospitals and 2,699 staffed beds in D.C., according to the American Hospital Directory.
9. The nation's capital is home to 12,000 residents who may qualify for Medicaid under the expanded qualification thresholds, according to a Families USA analysis. Washington, D.C. is second only to Vermont (10,000) for the least number of residents who may gain access to Medicaid in states that have expanded coverage.
10. Washington, D.C. boasts three accredited medical schools:
- The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Howard University College of Medicine
1 Kaiser State Health Facts