Economic concerns cause patients to delay care

TAFP, AAFP promote medical home concept for health reform

More than half of Americans postponed or skipped medical care because of cost last year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s first health care tracking poll of 2009.

Fifty-three percent of Americans say their household cut back on health care due to cost concerns in the past 12 months, most commonly by relying on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs rather than visiting a doctor, or by skipping dental care. More than a quarter report putting off health care they needed, just under a quarter report not filling a prescription, and 15 percent report cutting pills in half or skipping doses to make prescriptions last longer.

Of the 27 percent who put off health care they needed, 19 percent say they delayed going to the doctor for a temporary illness, 19 percent for preventive care, and 16 percent for a chronic illness or surgery. Nearly one in five respondents say they have recently experienced “serious financial problems” due to family medical bills.

“Experts and policymakers have multiple agendas in health reform, but when half the public reports skimping on care because they can’t afford it, it’s very clear that what the public wants most from health reform is relief from health care costs,” said Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman in a press release.

As health reform plans gain ground in Washington, TAFP and AAFP support bolstering primary care to achieve better outcomes at lower costs, particularly through the patient-centered medical home. The patient-centered medical home allows a primary care physician to lead a team of health care providers to coordinate patients’ care across the health care spectrum. Both academies have published Web sites to educate members, other physician organizations, policymakers, business leaders and the public at large on the importance and value of the medical home.

TAFP presents www.MedicalHomeForAll.com, which brings together a series of videos about the medical home from the perspective of patients, physicians, business leaders and policy makers. In a special section of AAFP’s website, www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/pcmh.html, the national Academy has compiled feature articles, audio and video presentations, and other tools to give all stakeholders the full picture of the medical home and its implications on the future of the U.S. health care system. Find out more about the patient-centered medical home with these member resources.