title: Strengthening the free care safety net.
abstract: For many of the estimated 43 million people in this country who have no health insurance, free care is often the only health care available.  With competition forcing hospitals to cut costs, consumer advocates face new challenges as they seek to ensure that free care remains available to all who need it.  This issue of States of Health explores the problems facing both consumers who rely on free care and those who provide that care.  It highlights what some advocates and communities are doing to address those concerns.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodspeed
mesh_terms: D004608:Eligibility Determination; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary; D006801:Humans; D008489:Medical Indigency; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D013219:State Government; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D014481:United States