H&S 1: HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

ALL UTAHNS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Other Information:

• Access to health care is still a problem for many Utahns. In 2001, almost 200,000 Utahns lacked health insurance coverage, and 240,000 who had coverage were underinsured. Those without health insurance are more likely to lack a primary medical provider and often go without medical, dental, and mental health care until health problems become difficult and costly to treat. Each year in Utah, thousands of persons are hospitalized for conditions that would have been easier, cheaper, and more effectively treated in outpatient settings. • CHIP (Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program) was implemented in 1998 and now has over 20,000 children on its roles. Still, in 2001 there were nearly 55,000 children (through age 18) without health insurance in the state, 36,000 of whom lived in households with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level. • Under a recently-approved Medicaid waiver, Utah adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes under 150% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for coverage under a new "Primary Care Network" insurance plan. In 2001, approximately 144,000 adults ages 19 to 64 were not covered by any type of health insurance, 62,000 of whom had incomes under 150% of the federal poverty level. • The UDOH (Utah Department of Health) regulates Utah's health facilities and is authorized to cite, fine, and even suspend licenses of facilities that do not meet minimum standards for health and safety. Public outreach educates consumers on what qualities to look for beyond that minimum standard. • Utah has completed the first year of a study of methods for tracking patient safety and reducing medical adverse events in hospitals. From 1995 to 2000, one patient in 250 hospital discharges (4,453 patients) experienced a medial error or complication, usually consisting of cuts, punctures, or perforations during medical care. A total of 62,000 (6% of all discharges) involved other complications of medical and surgical procedures. An additional 26,000 (2.6%) were complicated due to medications. • The UDOH supports access to emergency medical services throughout the state, including grants to over 150 local emergency medical services agencies to assist them in providing adequate emergency medical services within their communities.

Indicator(s):

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