 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Karen Cameron, MHA, Central Virginia Health Planning Agency, P.O. Box 24287, Richmond, VA 23224, 804-233-6206, kcameron@cvhpa.org
Despite the longest period of economic expansion and some of the lowest unemployment rates in our nation’s history during most of the 1990s, the number of people in the United States without access to some form of health care payment coverage grew. With the economic downturn and soaring health care costs of the last couple of years, it is estimated that more than 41 million Americans currently lack health insurance, with the number expected to grow substantially, notwithstanding the children’s health insurance efforts and the aging of the baby boomers into Medicare. Information about the importance of access to health care services relative to health status will be presented, as well as differences between demographic groups. Specific examples from household level needs assessment surveys performed in 1999 and 2002 in Central Virginia’s 27 localities will be presented, as appropriate. In addition, an overview of the forces that are increasingly pulling apart the patchwork of our current care systems and the various models for ensuring access to care for all members of our communities will be provided. An educated perspective of this issue is critical to those working in or planning for the public’s health.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Access and Services, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.