Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Access to care for the uninsured: is access to a physician enough?

1999; American Public Health Association; Volume: 89; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2105/ajph.89.6.910

1541-0048

Arch G. Mainous, William J. Hueston, Margaret M. Love, Charles H. Griffith,

Healthcare cost, quality, practices

OBJECTIVES: This study examined a private-sector, statewide program (Kentucky Physicians Care) of care for uninsured indigent persons regarding provision of preventive services. METHODS: A survey was conducted of a stratified random sample of 2509 Kentucky adults (811 with private insurance, 849 Medicaid recipients, 849 Kentucky Physicians Care recipients). RESULTS: The Kentucky Physicians Care group had significantly lower rates of receipt of preventive services. Of the individuals in this group, 52% cited cost as the primary reason for not receiving mammography, and 38% had not filled prescribed medicines in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Providing free access to physicians fills important needs but is not sufficient for many uninsured patients to receive necessary preventive services.