Access to Care in Vulnerable Communities
The AHA Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities examined ways in which the access to and delivery of care could be improved. As part of that work, this task force explored the creation of a strategy to address the unique geographic challenges faced by frontier communities, including鈥�
The AHA today released a guide to help hospital and health system board members and leaders implement an urgent care center strategy to maintain an access point for urgent medical conditions that can be treated on an outpatient basis, without having to maintain emergency medical services or鈥�
Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services Urgent Care Center
The decision to convert to a UCC is a complex undertaking that would have a critical impact on a hospital and its community. The AHA designed this tool to help hospitals and health systems determine whether the UCC is right for their communities.
CMS鈥檚 decision in today鈥檚 rule to cut Medicare payments to hospitals for drugs covered under the 340B program will dramatically threaten access to health care for many patients, including uninsured and other vulnerable populations. It is not based on sound policy and punishes hospitals and patients鈥�
The AHA welcomes today鈥檚 announcement of a public health emergency for the opioid epidemic and the Administration鈥檚 efforts to enhance access to treatment. This declaration appropriately highlights the urgent need to act so that fewer of our fellow citizens are suffering.
For millions of Americans living in vulnerable rural and urban communities, their hospital is often the only source of care. However, many of these hospitals are fighting to survive 鈥� potentially leaving their communities at risk for losing access to health care services.
The AHA will host a Nov. 1 webinar on global budget payment programs, one of nine potential strategies identified by an AHA task force last year to help ensure access to care in vulnerable communities. The webinar will spotlight MedStar Health鈥檚 journey to implement the Maryland All-Payer Model;鈥�
Today鈥檚 Executive Order will allow health insurance plans that cover fewer benefits and offer fewer consumer protections. No one can predict future health care needs with complete certainty and such plans could put patients at risk when care is needed most.
From the outset of this process, the AHA has remained consistent in our call for the protection of coverage, the protection of the Medicaid program, and the stabilization of the Health Insurance Marketplace.