The Emergency Response Commission To Address the Health Care Crisis in Alabama - Part II

THEME

Alabama - The Safest State!!!


RATIONALE

1. The cost of health care in Alabama has increased at a double-digit rate in the past 5 years

2. Significantly more citizens do not have health care insurance and are:
a. Using emergency rooms as a default for primary care physicians, and
b. Ignoring health maintenance and health prevention activities offered by primary care physicians

3. As a result, Alabama consistently ranks among the worst states in terms of population health measures and outcomes

4. Disproportionately, children, the aging population and rural citizens are victims of this worsening health care situation


5. More businesses are requiring their employees to pay higher premiums and co-pays

6. There is one dominant health insurance company in Alabama

7. The other large health insurance program in Alabama (Medicaid) is publicly funded and under extreme budgetary pressures

8. Most health insurance policies do not cover preventive health care services

9. Studies show that the more primary care doctors (internists, pediatricians, and family physicians) per capita, the lower the health care costs, regardless of insurance status

10. Studies show the longer a patient has to travel for basic health care services, the worse the health care outcome, regardless of insurance status

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