Limits to the safety net: teaching hospital faculty report on their patients' access to care.
Many major teaching hospitals might not be able to offer adequate access to specialty care for uninsured patients. This study found that medical school faculty were more likely to have difficulty obtaining specialty services for uninsured than for privately insured patients. These gaps in access were similar in magnitude for public and private institutions. Initial treatment of uninsured patients at academic health centers (AHCs) does not guarantee access to specialty and other referral services, which suggests that there are limits to relying on a health care safety net for uninsured patients. AHCs and affiliated group practices should examine policies that limit access for uninsured patients.
Weissman
Joel S
JS
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Moy
Ernest
E
Campbell
Eric G
EG
Gokhale
Manjusha
M
Yucel
Recai
R
Causino
Nancyanne
N
Blumenthal
David
D
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008511:Medicine; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics*; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States