Related Experiment Videos
Access to care for the uninsured: is access to a physician enough?
A G Mainous1, W J Hueston, M M Love
1Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. mainouag@musc.edu
Objectives:
This study examined a private-sector, statewide program (Kentucky Physicians Care) of care for uninsured indigent persons regarding provision of preventive services.
Methods:
A survey was conducted of a stratified random sample of 2509 Kentucky adults (811 with private insurance, 849 Medicaid recipients, 849 Kentucky Physicians Care recipients).
Results:
The Kentucky Physicians Care group had significantly lower rates of receipt of preventive services. Of the individuals in this group, 52% cited cost as the primary reason for not receiving mammography, and 38% had not filled prescribed medicines in the previous year.
Conclusions:
Providing free access to physicians fills important needs but is not sufficient for many uninsured patients to receive necessary preventive services.