Increasing access to health care: examination of hospital community benefits and free care programs.
The present study explored hospital community benefits and free care programs at seven hospitals in Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island, NewYork. There were two components to this project: (1) assessment of information regarding the availability of free care and (2) an analysis of the community benefits information filed with state regulatory offices. Results show that not one of the seven hospitals consistently informed surveyors that free care was available to low-income, uninsured people. Surveyors had difficulty obtaining written free care policies. The article concludes with suggestions for government agencies, hospital administrators, social workers, and other advocates on how to get involved in efforts to increase access to health care for the uninsured population.
Giffords
Elissa D
ED
Social Work Department, Long Island University, Brookville, NY 11548, USA. GiffordsE@aol.com
Wenze
Linda
L
Weiss
David M
DM
Kass
Donna
D
Guercia
Rosemarie
R
D003625:Data Collection; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D009518:New York