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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

Is Europe Prepared to Deliver an Alzheimer's Treatment?

Sep 30, 2018

A potential therapy for early-stage Alzheimer's patients might prevent or delay the progression to dementia. An assessment of how prepared six European nations are to deliver such a therapy indicates a pressing need to address health system constraints. One million patients could develop the disease while waiting for treatment.

Explore Health Care Access

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
Journal Article

Journal Article

Geographic Access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in Pennsylvania

Most children in Pennsylvania live within 30 miles of an international board-certified lactation consultant; however, this is true for a smaller percentage of children in rural counties.

Aug 24, 2018
Journal Article

Opening School-Based Health Clinics Can Lower Teacher Health Costs

Opening onsite health clinics to provide comprehensive primary care to teachers and their families can lower a school district's health care costs and decrease teacher absenteeism.

Jul 3, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Veteran Experiences Seeking Non-pharmacologic Approaches for Pain

Veterans are interested in complementary non-pharmacologic approaches to manage pain but they cite a range of barriers to access, including poor communication with providers and poor care coordination.

Jun 1, 2018
Report

Patient-Centered Medical Home Implementation in Indian Health Service Direct Service Facilities

In 2008, the Indian Health Service launched a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) initiative to improve the quality of care in its clinics. RAND researchers identified barriers and strategies to assist clinics on the path to PCMH recognition.

May 25, 2018
Testimony

Three Goals for Developing a Suicide Prevention Plan for California

As California seeks to develop a suicide prevention plan, it should keep three goals in mind: Provide better care to those known to be at risk, identify more at-risk individuals who could benefit from services, and create safer environments designed to prevent suicide.

May 24, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Health Care Access

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