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Health insurance for all
Linda F Cormier1, Cheryl Thomson
1Fairview Hospital, Great Barrington, MA, USA.
School Nurse News
|March 6, 2003
Summary
School nurses reported no health insurance barriers for children after a hospital-school collaboration ensured nearly all students had coverage. This initiative improved healthcare access and reduced emergency department visits for uninsured children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Health Policy
Background:
- Historically, health insurance was a significant barrier to healthcare access for children.
- Uninsured children often rely on emergency departments for primary and acute care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess healthcare barriers identified by school nurses.
- To evaluate the impact of a community hospital and school district collaboration on children's health insurance coverage.
Main Methods:
- Survey of school nurses in a western Massachusetts regional school district.
- Analysis of the impact of a collaborative initiative on student health insurance rates.
Main Results:
- Health insurance was not identified as a barrier by school nurses post-collaboration.
- Nearly all school children in the participating three-town area obtained health insurance.
- Improved healthcare access for children and reduced emergency department utilization.
Conclusions:
- Innovative collaborations between healthcare institutions and school districts can effectively address health insurance gaps for children.
- Ensuring health insurance coverage for all children significantly improves healthcare access and reduces reliance on emergency services.