Cover the Uninsured Week 2004 Press Releases

Three-Fourths Of Emergency Department Physicians Say Number Of Uninsured Patients In ERs Is Growing
New Survey of Emergency Physicians Ranks Providing Health Care to All Americans the Number One Goal for the U.S. Health Care System

Seven in 10 (72%) of emergency physicians say the number of uninsured patients they treated in the past year increased, and 8 in 10 (79%) say it's likely to increase again this coming year, according to a survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), an emergency medicine specialty society.

The opinion poll of nearly 2,000 emergency doctors showed overwhelming agreement that the uninsured patients they treat are more likely to delay care, suffer from illness, and put their physical and financial health in jeopardy than are the patients who have health care coverage.

In fact, 3 out of 4 (74%) of emergency physicians surveyed say their uninsured patients are more likely to die prematurely. The issue has become to critical that over half (57%) of emergency physicians ranked providing basic health care to all Americans as the number one goal in improving the nation's health care system.

"I've been an emergency physician for more than 20 years, and each year, I see an increasing number of uninsured patients," said ACEP President J. Brian Hancock, M.D. "While we treat and stabilize them in the emergency department, after they are released, many are faced with the decision of whether to spend their money to fill a prescription, follow a recommendation to see a specialist for follow-up care or buy groceries that week. That's a choice that no one should be forced to make."

(May 13, 2004)

Study Shows One In Three Working Hispanics Have No Health Coverage, Suffer Health Gaps As A Result

While many people assume that having a job also means having health insurance, a new report shows that one in three working Hispanic adults are uninsured. The report further reveals that Hispanic adults who do not have health insurance experience significant gaps in medical care, when compared to Hispanic adults coverage.

Although no demographic or ethnic group is immune to the struggle of going without health insurance, working Hispanics are more likely to be without health coverage than working Americans in any other ethnic community. About 35 percent of Hispanic adults with jobs are uninsured, compared to 18 percent of employed African-Americans and 11 percent of working white adults.

(May 10, 2004)

Study Shows Millions Of Working African Americans Have No Health Coverage, Suffer Health Gaps As A Result

While many people assume that having a job also means having health insurance, a new report shows that one in five working African-American adults are uninsured.

Although no racial or ethnic group is immune to going without health insurance, working African-Americans suffer disproportionately. About 18 percent of African-American adults with jobs are uninsured, compared to just 11 percent of working white adults.

"African-Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and other serious health problems, so regular medical care is especially important for our community," said Randall Maxey, M.D., president of the National Medical Association, the largest and oldest national organization representing African-American physicians and their patients.

(May 10, 2004)

Palmetto Project
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Charleston, SC 29417
Phone: 843.577.4122
E-mail: charleston@palmettoproject.org

S.C. Budget & Control Board
Office of Research and Statistics
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Columbia, SC 29201