The State of Surgical Care Access in America: Current Challenges, Disparities, and Emerging Solutions

Access to surgical care represents a significant and widespread issue that impacts millions of Americans across varying demographics. It is estimated that nearly 100 million Americans-approximately 1 in 3-lack access to quality surgical care. Additionally, the financial implications of this lack of access lead to an estimated annual cost of $1 billion in preventable healthcare spending, coupled with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Reliable access to care includes sufficient and affordable health insurance and the ability to easily locate and receive care that meets the patient's health needs. The barriers to timely, affordable, quality surgical care are complex and multifaceted. They include population-based factors such as rural geography, the repercussions of hospital closures, access challenges faced by justice-involved individuals, LGBTQ+ patients, and other marginalized groups, language and cultural barriers as well as the impact of natural disasters on supply and health system infrastructure, bias and discrimination, and policy.