76
Individuals without a dependable source of
health care have more difficulties obtaining
needed care, receive fewer preventive health
services, are more likely to wait until their conditions worsen before seeking treatment, and are
more likely to require hospitalization compared
with those who have a dependable source of
health care.
14,15
Children’s access to primary
health care is especially important to monitor
healthy growth and development
16
and to prevent
everyday illnesses from progressing into more
serious problems. Children with a usual source of
care are more likely to utilize preventive services
and to have better health outcomes and fewer disparities overall.
17
CAP survey respondents in 2019 (88%)
reported at similar percentages to previous years
that in the past 12 months they were able to
receive the health care that they needed, although
Whites were more likely to receive it than
Latinos. About 60% received care in a regular
doctor’s office, while about 25% received it at a
community clinic or hospital. The remainder had
no reliable source.
14 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2011).
National Healthcare Disparities and Quality Report.
Washington, DC.
15 Billings, J., Bidman, A.B., Grumbach, K., et al. (1995).
Preventable hospitalizations and access to health care.
Journal of American Medical Association, 274(4):
305–311.
16 ChildStats.gov. America’s Children: Key National
Indicators of Well-Being. Usual Source of Health Care.
2015. http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/care2.
asp. Accessed October 21, 2015.
17 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health
Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and
Child Health Bureau. Child Health USA 2014. Rockville,
Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2014.
A lack of health insurance coverage is a barrier to accessing health services. Families and
individuals without health insurance coverage
often have unmet health needs, receive fewer preventive services, suffer delays in receiving appropriate
care,
and
experience
more
hospitalizations.
18
Children who have health insurance learn better in school, miss fewer days of school, are more
likely to have a regular source of primary care,
and are less likely to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been treated by a primary
care physician.
19
Pregnancy can provide an opportunity to identify existing health risks in women and to prevent
future health problems for women and their children. The risk of pregnancy-related complications and maternal and infant mortality can be
reduced by increasing access to quality care.
20
Regular prenatal care reduces the risk of adverse
birth outcomes, including preterm and low birth
weight babies.
21
In Santa Cruz County, about 87% of pregnant
women receive prenatal care during the first tri18 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011).
Healthy People 2020 objectives. Retrieved from http://
healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.
aspx?topicid=1
19 Bernstein J, Chollet D, Peterson S. How Does Insurance
Coverage Improve Health Outcomes?. ISSUE BRIEF
2010. Available at: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/~/
media/publications/pdfs/health/reformhealthcare_ib1.
pdf. Accessed October 21, 2015.
20 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Healthy People 2020. Healthy People 2020. Accessed on
August 9, 2016, from https://www.healthypeople.
g o v / 2 0 2 0 / t o p i c s - o b j e c t i v e s / t o p i c /
maternal-infant-and-child-health
21 What is PedNSS/PNSS? Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention 2011. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/
pedness/what_is/pnss_health_indicators.htm. Accessed
October 2015.
S. Brutschy et al.
Individuals without a dependable source of
health care have more difficulties obtaining
needed care, receive fewer preventive health
services, are more likely to wait until their conditions worsen before seeking treatment, and are
more likely to require hospitalization compared
with those who have a dependable source of
health care.
14,15
Children’s access to primary
health care is especially important to monitor
healthy growth and development
16
and to prevent
everyday illnesses from progressing into more
serious problems. Children with a usual source of
care are more likely to utilize preventive services
and to have better health outcomes and fewer disparities overall.
17
CAP survey respondents in 2019 (88%)
reported at similar percentages to previous years
that in the past 12 months they were able to
receive the health care that they needed, although
Whites were more likely to receive it than
Latinos. About 60% received care in a regular
doctor’s office, while about 25% received it at a
community clinic or hospital. The remainder had
no reliable source.
14 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2011).
National Healthcare Disparities and Quality Report.
Washington, DC.
15 Billings, J., Bidman, A.B., Grumbach, K., et al. (1995).
Preventable hospitalizations and access to health care.
Journal of American Medical Association, 274(4):
305–311.
16 ChildStats.gov. America’s Children: Key National
Indicators of Well-Being. Usual Source of Health Care.
2015. http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/care2.
asp. Accessed October 21, 2015.
17 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health
Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and
Child Health Bureau. Child Health USA 2014. Rockville,
Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2014.
A lack of health insurance coverage is a barrier to accessing health services. Families and
individuals without health insurance coverage
often have unmet health needs, receive fewer preventive services, suffer delays in receiving appropriate
care,
and
experience
more
hospitalizations.
18
Children who have health insurance learn better in school, miss fewer days of school, are more
likely to have a regular source of primary care,
and are less likely to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been treated by a primary
care physician.
19
Pregnancy can provide an opportunity to identify existing health risks in women and to prevent
future health problems for women and their children. The risk of pregnancy-related complications and maternal and infant mortality can be
reduced by increasing access to quality care.
20
Regular prenatal care reduces the risk of adverse
birth outcomes, including preterm and low birth
weight babies.
21
In Santa Cruz County, about 87% of pregnant
women receive prenatal care during the first tri18 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011).
Healthy People 2020 objectives. Retrieved from http://
healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.
aspx?topicid=1
19 Bernstein J, Chollet D, Peterson S. How Does Insurance
Coverage Improve Health Outcomes?. ISSUE BRIEF
2010. Available at: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/~/
media/publications/pdfs/health/reformhealthcare_ib1.
pdf. Accessed October 21, 2015.
20 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Healthy People 2020. Healthy People 2020. Accessed on
August 9, 2016, from https://www.healthypeople.
g o v / 2 0 2 0 / t o p i c s - o b j e c t i v e s / t o p i c /
maternal-infant-and-child-health
21 What is PedNSS/PNSS? Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention 2011. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/
pedness/what_is/pnss_health_indicators.htm. Accessed
October 2015.
S. Brutschy et al.