FEED-BACK.COM E-ZINE
September / October 2009
Volume 12 Issue 5
Underserved Populations: Health & Other Disparities
Large numbers of U.S. residents do not have access to services that are readily available to others. One example is access to broadband, Internet, and telecommunication technologies. Another is a lack of "financial literacy" which adversely impacts a wide range of American consumers. The following overview summarizes recently published material on individuals who have unmet health and medical needs.
Research
In light of ongoing coverage of the U.S. health insurance debate, it is not surprising to find numerous organizations that focus on underserved populations. In September 2009, the University of California (Merced) announced plans to create a center for teaching students to conduct research in health-related fields. Research will assess regional health needs in ethnic and rural underserved populations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is funding the project. [1]
Services
In early October, the first allotment of a $3 billion state-funded initiative was issued to University of Texas (Austin). A primary objective of the original legislation is to prevent, screen, and treat cancer for medically underserved Texans. The $450 million will be matched by the institutions that receive the funding, and emphasis will be placed on early detection and cancer prevention programs. [2]
Through the Imani Clinic in Sacramento (California), the Sacramento Community Cancer Coalition (SCCC) began offering free cancer screenings in late September. The goal is to promote early detection among African Americans, a group that exhibits higher cancer rates than other underserved populations. [3]
Economic hardship and unemployment are forcing more patients to use hospital emergency departments for medical care, which in turn creates extreme financial burdens for some hospitals. One example cited on the Kaiser Health System web site is Grady Memorial Hospital (Grady; Atlanta GA) which closed its dialysis center as a cost-cutting measure. The facility also received an infusion of county funding to meet payroll, but still posted its fourth year of operating at a substantial deficit ($30+ million). Grady and many other "safety net" hospitals serve large numbers of immigrants and low-income patients but receive minimal payment for doing so (Medicaid and Medicare). As the gap widens, employees are laid off and satellite clinics are closed to keep the hospital doors open. [4]
Many other Americans receive medical care through community health centers (CHCs) and public health departments. There are approximately 3,000 CHCs and other facilities currently in operation to assist underserved populations. Passage of health insurance reform legislation could support establishment of more CHCs to improve access to care if other providers are unable to handle the increased demand. [5]
Global Need
In 2009, millions of lives will be improved worldwide by the nearly $10 billion contributed by members of the Clinton Global Initiative to fund various projects that provide agricultural, job, loan, and other forms of socioeconomic support. Resources are also used to implement educational, environmental, health care, infectious disease, medical, and nutritional programs. Additional efforts are planned to encourage stewardship of natural resources, expand entrepreneurism, provide savings opportunities for very poor individuals, etc. [6]
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[1] "UC Merced Gets $1.3 Million To Study Health Disparities," Central Valley Business Times, September 28, 2009.
[2] "Institute Receives State Funding For Cancer Research," The Daily Texan, October 7, 2009.
[3] "Sacramento Clinic Hosts Free Cancer Screenings," News 10, September 26, 2009.
[4] "Grady's Challenges Highlight Problems Of Safety-Net Hospitals," Kaiser Health News, October 2, 2009.
[5] "CHCs Have Role To Serve In Health Reform," The Hawkeye, September 27, 2009.
[6] "President Bill Clinton And Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Close Fifth Annual Meeting Of The Clinton Global Initiative," PR Newswire, September 26, 2009.
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