Access to health care refers to the ease with which an individual can obtain needed medical services. RAND research has examined the social, cultural, economic, and geographic factors that influence health care access worldwide; the effects of changes in access; and the relationship between access and health for specific U.S. populations—including racial and ethnic minorities, people with limited English proficiency, the uninsured, the elderly, children, and veterans.
With the health care safety net in California under stress from the state's continuing financial crisis, jurisdictions across the state face unprecedented challenges caring for the health and social service needs of people released from state prisons.
This report presents findings from a study of health innovations transferred from South to North. This briefing examines technologies developed for developing country settings, which may have an application in the UK National Health Service.
The Affordable Care Act builds on the employer-based health insurance system by developing exchanges through which small employers can offer coverage and by penalizing large employers that do not offer coverage. The exchanges could alleviate some of the difficulties faced by small firms that want to offer insurance.
Retail clinics have established a niche in the U.S. health care system based on their convenience and customer service. Levels of patient satisfaction and of the quality and appropriateness of care appear comparable to those of other providers. However, we know little about the effects of clinic use on preventive services, care coordination, and care continuity.
Are patients willing to travel for healthcare? RAND Europe's report on patient choice.
This document explores how increased use of bundled payment approaches would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
This document explores how requiring employers to offer health insurance (an employer mandate) would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
This document explores how requiring individuals to obtain health insurance (an individual mandate) would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
This document explores how expanding Medicaid/SCHIP eligibility would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
This document explores how a refundable tax credit to offset the cost of health insurance premiums would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
Direct service workers (DSWs) provide personal care or nonmedical services to individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living. Direct service work is low-paying and very physically and emotionally demanding, and turnover rates among DSWs are high. In 2003–2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funded ten efforts to increase recruitment and retention among DSWs. This volume evaluates these efforts.
This document explores how creating or expanding access to purchasing pools would affect health system performance along nine dimensions.
This document explores how expanding access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) would affect health system performance along nine performance dimensions.
Despite high rates of health insurance coverage among children in the District of Columbia, their access to health care is inadequate and poses a significant health problem—particularly for those who are publicly insured.
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are rapidly growing as a setting for the delivery of health care services, both in California and in the United States. This report describes the California ASC landscape, compares California ASCs to hospital outpatient surgery departments, and compares California's regulation of Ambulatory Surgery Centers to the regulations of other states.
Inmates released from California prisons have a high need for drug treatment, health care and mental health services, but they face barriers to accessing such aid because many return to communities where health care services are severely strained.
In a policy forum hosted by the Promising Practices Network and Kansas Action for Children, top experts from around the country shared research and practice knowledge related to federal and state SCHIP policy. Video of the event is available online.
The population of New Orleans will likely reach about 272,000 in September 2008 – amounting to 56 percent of the population before Hurricane Katrina struck. A key factor determining how quickly people can return to the city is the availability of housing.
Medicare has instituted a prospective payment system to reimburse facilities for patient care. Paying a predetermined rate per patient gives facilities incentives to provide care efficiently, since they can keep any difference between the set payment and their costs. However, it also gives them incentives to change their care and practice patterns to increase revenue. The authors examine the cumulative effects of payment system changes for…
This study examines strategies for strengthening the health system of a potential independent Palestinian state. Successful development of the Palestinian health system is worthwhile in its own right, and it may be a relatively cost-effective way to help demonstrate the tangible benefits of independence and peaceful relations with neighboring countries. Moreover, implementation of many of the strategies described can begin prior to…
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