Grade: No grade, new committee

Issue Statement:

In spite of abundant healthcare resources, access to health care remains a problem.

• 25% of Boone County adults surveyed had needed to see a doctor during the twelve months prior to the 1998 Needs Assessment, but could not.

• Use of walk-in clinics, emergency departments, and urgent care centers in lieu of establishing care with a primary care provider, may result in less effective disease management and lack of attention to promotion of wellness.

Progress Statement:

Data from the 1998 Health and Human Services Needs Assessment were evaluated by the committee, and to some extent compared to information obtained from the previous assessment in 1995, and to data from the Missouri State Department of Health. Children, uninsured adults, low income individuals, African-American, Hispanic, and elderly populations were considered individually in an effort to identify specific barriers to accessing care for each of these potentially vulnerable populations. It is the committee's hope to continue to identify Boone County populations that are particularly at risk, to clarify specific barriers, to use this information to help local agencies address identified needs, and to impact related legislation when possible.

• Increase the percentage of children on MC+ who receive regular EPSDT evaluations.

• Increase the percentage of Boone County residents who have some form of health insurance coverage.

• Monitor utilization of preventive care services of insured.

• Identify barriers to accessing care for specific vulnerable populations. Disseminate this information to local agencies for use in the development of programs targeted at decreasing disparities.

• Encourage eligible children and parents to apply for MC+ coverage.

Contacts:

Gloria Crull, Family Health Center Columbia, 814-0715 ext:3013.