Managing Access to Medical Specialists for the Uninsured: Specialty Access for the Uninsured Program

Safety net clinics provide primary care to uninsured patients. However, receiving specialty care is more complex because most specialists are not employed by these clinics.

To improve specialty access, the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership created the Specialty Access for the Uninsured Program (SAUP). The program provides timely specialty care distributed equally across the 3 adult health systems in Milwaukee. This paper outlines the process and framework used to implement SAUP.

Since SAUP implementation, 23 000 patients have been referred for specialty care, with a 91% appointment show rate.

The current specialty access system is unsustainable. SAUP provides a framework to address inequalities in specialty care access.

The SAUP model demonstrates that a coordinated, equitable distribution of specialty referrals across health systems can improve access for uninsured populations. This collaborative framework offers a sustainable solution for other communities facing rising rates of uninsurance and the high costs of deferred care.