The uninsured
Cathy Harding, executive director Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
Originally published 08:41 a.m., April 26, 2008
Updated 08:41 a.m., April 26, 2008
The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved joins with many businesses, faith leaders, health providers, community organizations and individuals to support Cover the Uninsured Week April 27-May 3. This national campaign focuses awareness on the need for affordable and reliable health care coverage.
In Kansas, an estimated 300,000 people are uninsured. But some people who fall outside the traditional medical system do have access to high quality health care at one of the “safety net” clinics across the state. Safety net clinics provide care to uninsured, underinsured and low-income Kansans, regardless of their ability to pay. In 2006, more than 166,000 people received care at one of the 34 clinics represented by KAMU.
In Emporia, Flint Hills Community Health Center performs this critical service for people in Lyon, Chase and Greenwood Counties. Staff members in this clinic see the faces of the uninsured every day and know their stories. These people are our hardworking neighbors and friends whose jobs do not provide insurance or who cannot afford private coverage.
Caring for the underserved is not only compassionate, but makes excellent financial sense. By emphasizing prevention and providing affordable, accessible health care, safety net clinics keep the uninsured healthy and out of hospital emergency rooms.
Yet even with support from the state and private foundations, safety net clinics alone cannot solve the problems of the uninsured. As more people look to these clinics for their health care, it is essential that we bring new commitment and resources to providing a medical home for every Kansan.