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Health Care Access

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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.

Essay

How Private Health Care Providers Could Better Serve Veterans

Nov 7, 2018

Almost a third of U.S. veterans live 40 miles or more from the nearest VA medical center, so the VA is trying to make it easier for them to use private providers closer to home. But it will take significant efforts to better prepare civilian doctors to deliver high-quality care to veterans.
Report

Spending Estimates Under Medicare for All

Apr 10, 2019

Under a Medicare for All plan similar to some proposals being discussed in Congress, total health expenditures would be an estimated 1.8 percent higher in 2019, relative to the status quo. While this is a small change in national spending, the federal government's health spending would increase substantially, rising by an estimated 221 percent.

Explore Health Care Access

Report

Report

Addressing Social Determinants of Health Needs of Dually Enrolled Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans: Findings from Interviews and Case Studies

How are the needs of dually enrolled beneficiaries in Medicare and Medicaid met? This report presents ways that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Medicare-Medicaid plans can meet the needs of dually enrolled beneficiaries.

Apr 12, 2019
Testimony

Ensuring Veterans' Access to Timely, High-Quality Health Care

Though the size of the U.S. veteran population has been decreasing over time, an influx of a new era of veterans with significant service-related health problems has increased VA health care enrollment to over 9 million. Insights from RAND research can help inform policymakers about the timeliness and quality of VA care.

Apr 10, 2019
Research Brief

The Ecology of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Newborns exposed to opioids before birth can experience withdrawal symptoms known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). From 2009 to 2015, the average NAS rate per 1,000 hospital births across eight states rose from about six to more than 25.

Mar 15, 2019
Report

Experiences of Medicaid Programs and Health Centers in Implementing Telehealth

Safety-net providers underuse telehealth due to a range of policy, organizational, and logistical barriers. Examining the use of telehealth by federal programs in seven states, researchers identified common themes and considerations for policymakers.

Mar 8, 2019
Report

Report

Evaluation of Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning and Capacity Building Models: Materials for a Report to Congress

This report examines the quality of evidence for the effectiveness of health care models that connect generalist providers with specialist teams via technology to provide additional training.

Mar 6, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Association Among County-Level Economic Factors, Clinician Supply, Metropolitan or Rural Location, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

This analysis found a significant association among higher long-term unemployment, higher mental health clinician shortage areas, and higher county-level rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Feb 1, 2019
News Release

Study Links Long-Term Unemployment to Increase in Babies Born with Opioid Withdrawal

Babies born after being exposed to opioids before birth are more likely to be delivered in regions of the U.S. with high rates of long-term unemployment and lower levels of mental health services.

Jan 30, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Qualitative Study of Patient Views on a 'Telephone-First' Approach in General Practice in England: Speaking to the GP by Telephone Before Making Face-to-Face Appointments

A series of interviews to help understand patients' views on a 'telephone-first' approach, in which all appointment requests in general practice are followed by a telephone call from the general practitioner (GP).

Jan 8, 2019
Report

Report

Access to Medical Treatment for Injured Workers in California: Year 2 Annual Report

This Year 2 report updates the trends in care for injured workers in California that were examined in a Year 1 report -- all part of a three-year state effort. This study uses data from claims, a physician survey, and Medical Provider Network listings.

Dec 27, 2018
Report

Report

Measuring Barriers to Mental Health Care in the Military: The RAND Barriers and Facilitators to Care Item Banks

This report summarizes the findings of a study to construct item banks of barriers and facilitators to mental health care for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Dec 11, 2018
Report

Evaluation of the Connections to Care (C2C) Initiative: Interim Report

This interim report presents preliminary evaluation findings for New York City's Connections to Care program, which seeks to expand access to mental health support for low-income New Yorkers via a task shifting model.

Nov 29, 2018
Commentary

Misconceptions About 'Medicare for All'

Medicare for All is a talking point for both major U.S. political parties. Would it be free? Would people have to switch doctors? Would waits be long? Misconceptions abound about single-payer proposals and their likely effects. Here are the facts.

Oct 27, 2018
Q&A

Committed to Improving Health Care Policy: Q&A with Jodi Liu

Jodi Liu, an associate policy researcher at RAND, studies how to deliver high-quality care and how to pay for it. She discusses her assessment of a single-payer health care proposal in New York State and the supply-and-demand challenges that might arise if an Alzheimer's treatment became available.

Oct 23, 2018
Commentary

A Threat to Immigrant Health Care with Potential Consequences for All

The proposed changes to the “public charge” rule could jeopardize decades of progress towards improved health care access and health for immigrants and U.S. citizens. Negative effects may include worse health outcomes, increased use of emergency rooms, and increased prevalence of communicable diseases.

Oct 12, 2018
Report

Report

Access to Medical Treatment for Injured Workers in California: Year 1 Annual Report

This report describes access to medical care among injured workers in the state of California, as mandated by Labor Code Section 5307.2.

Sep 27, 2018
Journal Article

Keeping Young Adults Insured Means More Mental Health Care

Lack of insurance has been a barrier to mental health treatment for young adults. The ACA's Dependent Care Expansion, which allows them to stay on their parents' policies until age 26, has increased use of mental health care among this high need group—without affecting quality of care or disparities in access.

Sep 21, 2018
Report

Evaluation of the Global Payment Program: Midpoint Report

The Global Payment Program seeks to improve health care for California's uninsured by providing funds for both traditional and non-traditional services, settings, and providers. This is the report of the midpoint evaluation of the program.

Sep 7, 2018
Report

Recommendations for Improving Access to Primary Care

Access to primary care is critical for ensuring population health. Evidence-based priorities can help health care organizations improve access and access management.

Sep 5, 2018
Multimedia

Improving Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment

Treatment for opioid addiction and other substance use disorders often exists apart from primary care. It's also difficult to access and under-resourced. In response to these challenges, RAND's Katherine Watkins developed an innovative approach to addiction treatment through primary care settings.

Sep 1, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Health Care Access

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