Access to Health Care

2009 Position Statement – Ohio Public Health Association

Background:

Access to Health care is not only one of the10 leading health indicators from Healthy People 2010 but it is also an American Right. In the White House Report President Obama committed to working with Congress his first year to pass comprehensive health reform in order to control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

According to Healthy People 2010, access to quality health care includes having health insurance, a higher income level, and a regular primary care provider. Persons with health insurance are more likely to have a primary care provider and to have received appropriate preventive care. Adults with health insurance are twice as likely to receive a routine checkup as are adults without health insurance.

Financial, structural, and personal barriers can limit access to health care. Financial barriers include not having health insurance, not having enough health insurance to cover needed services, or not having the financial capacity to cover services outside a health plan or insurance program. Structural barriers include the lack of primary care providers, medical specialists, or other health care professionals to meet special needs or the lack of health care facilities. Personal barriers include cultural or spiritual differences, language barriers, not knowing what to do or when to seek care, or concerns about confidentiality or discrimination.

Policy Recommendations:

•        Support national efforts to enact health reform

•        Assure affordable and quality health care for Ohioans

•        Reduce access barriers such as cost, spirituality, language, culture,  and ethnic origin

•        Increase health prevention and wellness