Introduction to State Health Policy:
A Seminar for New State Legislators

Session 7:
Providing Access to Care, Part I: The Uninsured and the Health Care Safety Net

Presenters:	Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D. Robert W. Woodruff Professor and Chair Department of Health Policy and Management Rollins School of Public Health Emory University Atlanta, GA Grace-Marie Turner, Ph.D. President Galen Institute, Inc. Alexandria, VA
Content:	Many States are confronted with a growing number of people who lack health insurance or a regular source of care, which presents difficulties for both the individual and the community where they live. Because they cannot afford care, the uninsured tend to wait to seek services when their conditions become acute or require more extensive care. This contributes to overall health care costs because providers must either absorb the cost of providing these services or pass the cost to others. Some States and local communities have established a “safety net” of providers—public or nonprofit hospitals and clinics that provide a high volume of charity care—to serve this population. However, traditional safety net providers are struggling to remain financially viable. This session provides a descriptive analysis of the uninsured and discusses Federal, State, local government, and private efforts to strengthen the safety net and establish programs to increase insurance coverage for vulnerable populations.
Session Archive:	Click to View Archive (REAL Player)
Session Transcript:	Text Transcript
Presentation Slides:	Kenneth Thorpe: PowerPoint fomat (.10 mb) text format Grace-Marie Turner: PowerPoint fomat (.51 mb) text format

Recommended reading:

• National Conference of State Legislatures. “Frequently Asked Questions…Access.”
• Williams CH, Fuchs BC. “Expanding the Individual Health Insurance Market: Lessons Learned from the State Reforms of the 1990s.” The Synthesis Project Policy Brief. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. June 2004
• Scandlen G. “Health Savings Accounts.” Health Issues. Alexandria: Galen Institute, December 17, 2003.
• Schriver ML, Arnett G-M. “Uninsured Rates Rise Dramatically in States with Strictest Health Insurance Regulations.” Backgrounder: Executive Summary. Washington: The Heritage Foundation, August 11, 1998;1211.
• Turner, G-M. “New Studies Show Consumer-directed Care Reduces Costs and Improves Access.” Health Issues. Alexandria: Galen Institute, 2004.