Access to Primary Care
The provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.
Preventative care is essential for maintaining a healthy life, and millions of people in the U.S. are at a disadvantage. Whether it is racial disparities, limited access to resources available, health literacy, or insurance, many people go without access to adequate primary care services.
In 2010, then-President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (2010), which reformed health care coverage to include all Americans having access to free preventative services and expanded Medicaid since many facilities and providers did not accept the insurance. This law was essential for those with preexisting conditions, which blocked them from many insurance carriers before the reform. Further, individuals and families who did not fit the criteria for insurance plans now have access to resources like the health insurance marketplace and the sliding scale option for payment based on their income.
Key Points
References
Health care that works for americans. (2010). The White House. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/128689
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111–148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010)
Shi, L. (2012). The impact of primary care: A focused review. Scientifica, 2012, 432892.
https://doi.org/10.6064/2012/432892