Document Type
Report
Publication Date
7-23-2009
Publisher
George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Health Policy
Series
Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative Policy Research Brief No. 11
Keywords
Primary Care; Community Health Centers; Health Homes
Abstract
Nearly 100 million persons reside in urban and rural communities that can be considered medically underserved as a result of inadequate supply of primary care physicians and elevated health risks. A report by the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Robert Graham Center estimated that 60 million people are "medically disenfranchised" and lack access to adequate primary health care because of where they live, even though many have health insurance. This brief assesses the potential effects of national health reform on health centers and on the number of patients they can serve. Because improving primary care access is regarded by experts is key to the success of health reform, a critical question is how the proposals before Congress would address health centers' ability to expand the availability of primary care in communities across the country. This Brief examines the effects of the draft House Tri-Committee (Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor and Ways and Means Committees) health reform bill, as issued July 14, 2009.
Recommended Citation
Ku, L., Shin, P., & Rosenbaum, S. (2009). Estimating the effects of health reform on health centers' capacity to expand to new medically underserved communities and populations (Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative policy research brief no. 11). Washington, D.C.: George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Health Policy.
Open Access
1