Access to Care
Increasing access to healthcare for all
Access to high quality, affordable, and timely healthcare is an important part of an individual and community’s health. Despite living in a regional hub for health care services, this can be a challenge for Yellowstone County residents. The ability to visit a healthcare provider to prevent, treat, and manage a health issue plays a key role in the quality of life for everyone. Services that are culturally appropriate or sensitive are also important.
Background
In 2014, Healthy By Design Coalition members sought to improve access to healthcare through several initiatives, including:
- The development of a Super Utilizer Project, which brought together a multidisciplinary team to address complex patients who were frequently visiting hospital emergency rooms for health issues that could have been addressed through primary care coordination. This project resulted in the creation of a Care Transitions Team and has informed health information exchange planning in Montana.
- Support for Medicaid Expansion in Montana, which was adopted in 2017 and continued in 2019.
- Promotion of the health insurance marketplace and increase health coverage
- Expansion of Montana 211 as a referral system for health and social services
Next steps
The Coalition continues to seek opportunities to improve access to care through advocating for the expansion of public and active transportation infrastructure and resources, and raising awareness of these issues in supporting residents in meeting their needs.
