Access to Care

HSC closely monitors changes in access to and quality of health care from the viewpoint of consumers and physicians. Studies about access to care include the uninsured and those with low incomes, as well as racial and ethnic minorities and people with chronic conditions.

Title	Date	Document Info
Modest and Uneven: Physician Efforts to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities James D. Reschovsky, Ellyn Boukus	February 2010	Issue Brief No. 130
The Economic Recession: Early Impacts on Health Care Safety Net Providers Laurie E. Felland, Peter J. Cunningham, Genna R. Cohen, Elizabeth A. November, Brian C. Quinn	January 2010	Research Brief No. 15
Suburban Poverty and the Health Care Safety Net Laurie E. Felland, Johanna Lauer, Peter J. Cunningham	July 2009	Research Brief No. 13
How Does Health Coverage and Access to Care for Immigrants Vary by Length of Time in the U.S.? Peter J. Cunningham, Samantha Artiga	June 9, 2009	Kaiser Family Foundation Report
General Hospitals, Specialty Hospitals and Financially Vulnerable Patients Ann Tynan, Elizabeth A. November, Johanna Lauer, Hoangmai H. Pham, Peter Cram	April 2009	Research Brief No. 11
Financial and Health Burdens of Chronic Conditions Grow Ha T. Tu, Genna R. Cohen	April 2009	Tracking Report No. 24
Access to Prescription Drugs for Medicare Beneficiaries James D. Reschovsky, Laurie E. Felland	March 2009	Tracking Report No. 23
More Nonelderly Americans Face Problems Affording Prescription Drugs Laurie E. Felland, James D. Reschovsky	January 2009	Tracking Report No. 22
Living on the Edge: Health Care Expenses Strain Family Budgets Peter J. Cunningham, Carolyn Miller, Alwyn Cassil	December 2008	Research Brief No. 10
Do Reimbursement Delays Discourage Medicaid Participation by Physicians? Peter J. Cunningham, Ann S. O'Malley	Nov. 18, 2008	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Trade-Offs Getting Tougher: Problems Paying Medical Bills Increase for U.S. Families, 2003-2007 Peter J. Cunningham	September 2008	Tracking Report No. 21
Community Efforts to Expand Dental Services for Low-Income People Laurie E. Felland, Johanna Lauer, Peter J. Cunningham	July 2008	Issue Brief No. 122
Falling Behind: Americans' Access to Medical Care Deteriorates, 2003-2007 Peter J. Cunningham, Laurie E. Felland	June 2008	Tracking Report No. 19
Safety Net Hospital Emergency Departments: Creating Safety Valves for Non-Urgent Care Laurie E. Felland, Robert E. Hurley, Nicole M. Kemper	May 2008	Issue Brief No. 120
Do Primary Care Physicians Treating Minority Patients Report Problems Delivering High-Quality Care? James D. Reschovsky, Ann S. O'Malley	April 22, 2008	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Effects of Changes in Incomes and Practice Circumstances on Physicians' Decisions to Treat Charity and Medicaid Patients Peter J. Cunningham, Jack Hadley	March 2008	Journal ArticleThe Milbank Quarterly
Relief, Restoration and Reform: Economic Upturn Yields Modest and Uneven Health Returns Robert E. Hurley, Aaron Katz, Laurie E. Felland	January 2008	Issue Brief No. 117
Financial Burden of Health Care, 2001-2004 Jessica S. Banthin, Peter J. Cunningham, Didem M. Bernard	January/February 2008	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Overburdened and Overwhelmed: The Struggles of Communities with High Medical Cost Burdens Peter J. Cunningham	November 2007	Research Report
The Health Care Safety Net: What is It, What Good Does It Do, and Will It Still be There When We Need It? Peter J. Cunningham	Fall 2007	Journal ArticleHarvard Health Policy Review
Differences Between Symptom-Specific and General Survey Questions of Unmet Need in Measuring Insurance and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Care Peter J. Cunningham, Jack Hadley	September 2007	Journal ArticleMedical Care
Identifying Affordable Sources of Medical Care Among Uninsured Persons Peter J. Cunningham, Jack Hadley, Genevieve Kenney, Amy J. Davidoff	January 2007	Journal ArticleHealth Services Research
Would Safety-Net Expansions Offset Reduced Access Resulting from Lost Insurance Coverage? Race/Ethnicity Differences Jack Hadley, Peter J. Cunningham, J. Lee Hargraves	November/December 2006	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Health Coverage and Access to Care for Hispanics in New Growth Communities and Major Hispanic Centers Peter J. Cunningham, Michelle I. Banker, Samantha Artiga, Jennifer Tolbert	Sept. 21, 2006	Research Report
Medicaid Patients Increasingly Concentrated Among Physicians Peter J. Cunningham, Jessica H. May	August 2006	Tracking Report No. 16
Immunization Disparities in Older Americans Ann S. O'Malley, Christopher B Forrest	August 2006	Journal ArticleAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine
What Accounts for Differences in the Use of Hospital Emergency Departments Across U.S. Communities? Peter J. Cunningham	July 18, 2006	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
The Struggle to Provide Community-Based Care to Low-Income People with Serious Mental Illnesses Peter J. Cunningham, Kelly L. McKenzie, Erin Fries Taylor	May/June 2006	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
The Community Safety Net and Prescription Drug Access for Low-Income, Uninsured People Laurie E. Felland, Erin Fries Taylor, Anneliese M. Gerland	April 2006	Issue Brief No. 105
Community Approaches to Providing Care for the Uninsured Erin Fries Taylor, Peter J. Cunningham, Kelly L. McKenzie	April 11, 2006	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
A Growing Hole in the Safety Net: Physician Charity Care Declines Again Peter J. Cunningham, Jessica H. May	March 2006	Tracking Report No. 13
A Decade of Tracking Health System Change Paul B. Ginsburg, Cara S. Lesser	March 2006	Commentary No. 2
Stretching the Safety Net to Serve Undocumented Immigrants: Community Responses to Health Needs Andrea Staiti, Robert E. Hurley, Aaron Katz	February 2006	Issue Brief No. 104
Medicaid/SCHIP Cuts and Hospital Emergency Department Use Peter J. Cunningham	January/February 2006	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
A Widening Rift in Access and Quality: Growing Evidence of Economic Disparities Robert E. Hurley, Hoangmai H. Pham, Gary Claxton	Dec. 6, 2005	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
The Effects of Medicaid Reimbursement on the Access to Care of Medicaid Enrollees: A Community Perspective Peter J. Cunningham, Len M. Nichols	December 2005	Journal ArticleMedical Care Research and Review
Perception, Reality and Health Insurance: Uninsured as Likely as Insured to Perceive Need for Care but Half as Likely to Get Care Jack Hadley, Peter J. Cunningham	October 2005	Issue Brief No. 100
Disparities Despite Coverage Ann S. O'Malley, Christopher B. Forrest, Shibao Feng, Jeanne Mandelblatt	Oct. 10, 2005	Journal ArticleArchives of Internal Medicine
Access and Quality: Does Rural America Lag Behind? James D. Reschovsky, Andrea Staiti	July/August 2005	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
An Update on Americans' Access to Prescription Drugs Marie C. Reed	May 2005	Issue Brief No. 95
Medicaid Cost Containment and Access to Prescription Drugs Peter J. Cunningham	May/June 2005	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
More Americans Willing to Limit Physician-Hospital Choice for Lower Medical Costs Ha T. Tu	March 2005	Issue Brief No. 94
Health Center Trends, 1994-2001: What do They Portend for the Federal Growth Initiative? Ann S. O'Malley, Christopher B. Forrest, Robert M. Politzer, John T. Wulu, Leiya Shi	March/April 2005	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
An Update on Medicare Beneficiary Access to Physician Services Sally Trude, Paul B. Ginsburg	February 2005	Issue Brief No. 93
High Cost of Medical Care Prompts Consumers to Seek Alternatives Ha T. Tu, J. Lee Hargraves	December 2004	Data Bulletin No. 28
Most Uninsured People Unaware of Health Care Safety Net Providers Jessica H. May, Peter J. Cunningham, Jack Hadley	November 2004	Issue Brief No. 90
Controlling Health Care Costs Paul B. Ginsburg	Oct. 14, 2004	Commentary
Availability of Safety Net Providers and Access to Care of Uninsured Persons Jack Hadley, Peter J. Cunningham	October 2004	Journal ArticleHealth Services Research
Rising Health Costs, Medical Debt and Chronic Conditions Ha T. Tu	September 2004	Issue Brief No. 88
Trends in Americans' Access to Needed Medical Care, 2001-2003 Bradley C. Strunk, Peter J. Cunningham	August 2004	Tracking Report No. 10
Primary Care Doctors Who Treat Blacks and Whites Peter B. Bach, Hoangmai H. Pham, Deborah Schrag, Ramsey C. Tate, J. Lee Hargraves	Aug. 5, 2004	Journal ArticleNew England Journal of Medicine
Expanding Care Versus Expanding Coverage: How to Improve Access to Care Peter J. Cunningham, Jack Hadley	July/August 2004	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Tough Trade-offs: Medical Bills, Family Finances and Access to Care Jessica H. May, Peter J. Cunningham	June 2004	Issue Brief No. 85
Changes in Medicaid Physician Fees, 1998-2003: Implications For Physician Participation Stephen Zuckerman, Joshua McFeeters, Peter J. Cunningham, Len M. Nichols	June 23, 2004	Journal ArticleHealth Affairs
Health Care Access For Low-Income People: Significant Safety Net Gaps Remain Laurie E. Felland, Suzanne Felt-Lisk, Megan McHugh	June 2004	Issue Brief No. 84
Federal Aid Strengthens Health Care Safety Net: The Strong Get Stronger John F. Hoadley, Laurie E. Felland, Andrea Staiti	April 2004	Issue Brief No. 80
Myths About The Uninsured	March 9, 2004	Congressional Testimony
Prescription Drug Access Disparities Among Working-Age Americans Marie C. Reed, J. Lee Hargraves	December 2003	Issue Brief No. 73
Insured Americans Drive Surge in Emergency Department Visits Peter J. Cunningham, Jessica H. May	October 2003	Issue Brief No. 70
The Health Care Safety Net: Money Matters but Savvy Leadership Counts Laurie E. Felland, Kyle Kinner, John F. Hoadley	August 2003	Issue Brief No. 66
Unequal Access: African-American Medicare Beneficiaries and the Prescription Drug Gap Marie C. Reed, J. Lee Hargraves, Alwyn Cassil	July 2003	Issue Brief No. 64
The Contribution of Insurance Coverage and Community Resources to Reducing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Care J. Lee Hargraves, Jack Hadley	June 2003	Journal ArticleHealth Services Research,
So Much to Do, So Little Time: Physician Capacity Constraints, 1997-2001 Sally Trude	May 2003	Tracking Report No. 8
Behind the Times: Physician Income, 1995-99 Marie C. Reed, Paul B. Ginsburg	March 2003	Data Bulletin No. 24
The Resilience of the Health Care Safety Net, 1996-2001 Laurie E. Felland, Cara S. Lesser, Andrea Staiti, Aaron Katz, Patricia Lichiello	Feb. 21, 2003	Journal ArticleHealth Services Research
Mounting Pressures: Physicians Serving Medicaid Patients and the Uninsured, 1997-2001 Peter J. Cunningham	December 2002	Tracking Report No. 6
Growing Physician Access Problems Complicate Medicare Payment Debate Sally Trude, Paul B. Ginsburg	September 2002	Issue Brief No. 55
The Insurance Gap and Minority Health Care, 1997-2001 J. Lee Hargraves	June 2002	Tracking Report No. 2
Prescription Drug Access: Not Just a Medicare Problem Peter J. Cunningham	April 2002	Issue Brief No. 51
Affording Prescription Drugs: Not Just a Problem for the Elderly Peter J. Cunningham	April 2002	Research Report No. 5
Treading Water: Americans' Access to Needed Medical Care, 1997-2001 Bradley C. Strunk, Peter J. Cunningham	March 2002	Tracking Report No. 1
Written Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Ways and Means	Feb. 28, 2002	Testimony
Triple Jeopardy: Low Income, Chronically Ill and Uninsured in America Marie C. Reed, Ha T. Tu	February 2002	Issue Brief No. 49
Consumers Face Higher Costs As Health Plans Seek to Control Drug Spending Glen P. Mays, Robert E. Hurley, Joy M. Grossman	November 2001	Issue Brief No. 45
The Health Status of Workers Who Decline Employer-Sponsored Insurance: Linda J. Blumberg, Len M. Nichols	November 2001	Health Affairs
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Access to Medical Care in Managed Care Plans J. Lee Hargraves, Peter J. Cunningham, Robert G. Hughes	October 2001	Health Services Research
Physicians Pulling Back from Charity Care Marie C. Reed, Peter J. Cunningham, Jeffrey Stoddard	August 2001	Issue Brief No. 42
Emergency Room Diversions: A Symptom of Hospitals Under Stress Linda R. Brewster, Liza Rudell, Cara S. Lesser	May 2001	Issue Brief No. 38
Do Consumers Know How Their Health Plan Works? Peter J. Cunningham, Charles Denk, Michael Sinclair	March/April 2001	Health Affairs
Back To The Future? New Cost and Access Challenges Emerge Cara S. Lesser, Paul B. Ginsburg	February 2001	Issue Brief No. 35
Race, Ethnicity and Preventive Services: J. Lee Hargraves	January 2001	Issue Brief No. 34
Update on the Nation’s Health Care System: Cara S. Lesser, Paul B. Ginsburg	November/December 2000	Health Affairs
Health Care Perceptions and Experiences James D. Reschovsky, J. Lee Hargraves	September 2000	Issue Brief No. 30
Who Is Likely to Switch Health Plans? Peter J. Cunningham, Linda T. Kohn	July 2000	Data Bulletin No. 18
What’s the Difference Between HMOs and Non-HMOs?: National Survey of Consumers Finds Limited Disparities with Non-HMO Plans	March 16, 2000	Conference Executive Summary
Why People Change Their Health Care Providers Marie C. Reed	May 2000	Data Bulletin No. 16
Health Plan Switching: Peter J. Cunningham, Linda T. Kohn	May/June 2000	Health Affairs
Does Type of Health Insurance Affect Health Care Use and Assessments of Care Among the Privately Insured? James D. Reschovsky, Peter Kemper, Ha T. Tu	April 2000	Health Services Research
Do HMOs Make a Difference? Timothy K. Lake	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Do HMOs Make a Difference? Peter Kemper, James D. Reschovsky, Ha T. Tu	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Do HMOs Make a Difference?	March 9, 2000	Conference Transcript
Do HMOs Make a Difference? James D. Reschovsky, Peter Kemper, Ha T. Tu, Timothy K. Lake, Holly L. Wong	March 2000	Issue Brief No. 28
Do HMOs Make a Difference? James D. Reschovsky, Peter Kemper	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Do HMOs Make a Difference? James D. Reschovsky	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Do HMOs Make a Difference? James D. Reschovsky	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Do HMOs Make a Difference? Ha T. Tu, Peter Kemper, Holly L. Wong	Winter 1999/2000	Inquiry
Local Innovations Provide Managed Care for the Uninsured Laurie E. Felland, Cara S. Lesser	January 2000	Issue Brief No. 25
Changes in Scope of Care Provided by Primary Care Physicians Robert F. St. Peter, Marie C. Reed, Peter Kemper, David Blumenthal	December 23, 1999	The New England Journal of Medicine
The Scope of Care Expected of Primary Care Physicians: Robert F. St. Peter, Marie C. Reed, Peter Kemper, David Blumenthal	December 1999	Issue Brief No. 24
Managed Care and Physicians' Provision of Charity Care Peter J. Cunningham, Joy M. Grossman, Robert F. St. Peter, Cara S. Lesser	March 24-31, 1999	Journal of the American Medical Association
Pressures on the Health Care Safety Net: Peter J. Cunningham	April 1999	Health Services Research
Managed Care Cost Pressures Threaten Access for the Uninsured	March 1999	Issue Brief No. 19
Staying in the Game: Raymond J. Baxter, Rachel L. Feldman	March 1999	Research Report No. 03
Public Health Departments Adapt to Medicaid Managed Care Rose Marie Martinez, Elizabeth Closter	November 1998	Issue Brief No. 16
Ability to Obtain Medical Care for the Uninsured Peter J. Cunningham, Peter Kemper	September 9, 1998	Journal of the American Medical Association
The Uninsured Getting Care: Peter J. Cunningham, Peter Kemper	September 1998	Issue Brief No. 15
How Well Do Communities Perform on Access to Care for the Uninsured Peter J. Cunningham, Heidi H. Whitmore	September 1998	Research Report No. 01
Gatekeeping Arrangements in Widespread Use Robert F. St. Peter	Fall 1997	Data Bulletin No. 07
Primary Care Physicians Concerned about Patients' Access to Mental Health Services Miriam Shuchman, Robert F. St. Peter	Fall 1997	Data Bulletin No. 06
Satisfaction and Quality: Marie C. Reed, Robert F. St. Peter	Fall 1997	Data Bulletin No. 03
Access to Specialists: Robert F. St. Peter	Fall 1997	Data Bulletin No. 02
Access to Care: Cara S. Lesser, Peter J. Cunningham	Fall 1997	Data Bulletin No. 01
A Changing Picture of Uncompensated Care Peter J. Cunningham, Ha T. Tu	July/August 1997	Health Affairs
Access to Health Care: Heidi H. Whitmore	April 1997	Issue Brief No. 08
Tracking Changes in the Public Health System:	September 1996	Issue Brief No. 02
Snapshots of Change in Fifteen Communities: James R. Knickman	Summer 1996	Health Affairs
Snapshots of Change in Fifteen Communities: Debra J. Lipson, Naomi Naierman	Summer 1996	Health Affairs