title: Evangelical Protestants and the ACA: An Opening for Community-Based Primary Care?
abstract: Evangelical Protestants make up the largest religious subgroup in the United States, and previous research has shown that Evangelical churches are disproportionately active in community engagement and efforts toward social change. Although Evangelical Protestant perspectives have been considered with regard to persistent socioeconomic stratification and racial discrimination, less focus has been given to how churches interpret poor health outcomes within the United States. In particular, this research addresses how enduring health disparities are understood within the larger discussion of healthcare reform. Due to the similarity of approaches favored by participants in this study and community-based philosophy, a suggestion is made for future health policy dialogue. Although Evangelical Protestants have been most likely to reject all aspects of the Affordable Care Act, in many ways the findings of this study suggest the potential for successful future health policy collaboration. In particular, community-based primary care might appeal to Evangelicals and health professionals in the ongoing effort to improve population health and the quality of healthcare in the United States.
authors.affiliation: a Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Social Medicine , Ohio University , Athens , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Berkeley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: b Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Social Medicine , Ohio University , Dublin , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011320:Primary Health Care; D033303:Protestantism; D012922:Social Change; D014481:United States
keywords: Affordable Care Act; Evangelicalism; community-based health; primary care