When Christina Pepper’s mother was put on a weekslong waiting list for a necessary imaging test, it wasn’t top of mind that Madison is one of the premier health care destinations in the Midwest.
When James Westring left primary care appointments after spending a few rushed minutes with his doctor, he didn’t think about his luck in living near a prominent research university that pumps out talented physicians and innovative medical technologies.
What matters most in each of those moments isn’t state-of-the-art facilities or top-10 designations, but being able to access quality, timely and affordable care. And even in a city flush with top-notch hospitals and innovative biotechnology and life science businesses, it’s a struggle. The patient experience is fraught with frustrations and disappointment: weeks spent waiting for appointments, hours lost to contesting claims or parsing shifting insurance coverage — all while health care premiums continue to climb…