Quality of Care for Vulnerable Populations Surveys

A new Commonwealth Fund survey of safety-net clinic patients in New Orleans finds that, despite being disproportionately low-income and uninsured, these patients had fewer problems affording care and fewer instances of medical debt and inefficient care than most U.S. adults. The findings suggest that the locally based clinics could serve as a model for delivering primary care to vulnerable populations elsewhere.

A new Commonwealth Fund survey of safety-net clinic patients in New Orleans finds that, despite being disproportionately low-income and uninsured, these patients had fewer problems affording care and fewer instances of medical debt and inefficient care than most U.S. adults.

Providing minority patients a "medical home"--a health care setting in which they have a regular provider, enhanced access to physicians after-hours, and timely, well-organized care--has the potential to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in access to high-quality care, according to the findings of this Commonwealth Fund-supported survey.

This survey assessed racial and ethnic differences in patient experiences with the health care system, focusing on such quality measures as patient-physician communication and access to care.

This survey profiles beneficiaries' experiences getting health care and examines their exposure to financial burdens. The survey's findings underscore the diversity of the Medicare population and point to the challenge of improving protections for the relatively large share of beneficiaries with low incomes and/or health problems.