Safety Net Clinics: A Case Study

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Many counties in Kansas have public hospitals funded in part by county fund. The need for safety net clinics is greater in these counties for many reasons. The public hospitals are not enough. The studies in similar counties shows that some of these population have a high unemployment rate and most are uninsured. Even with the Affordable Care Act, many are still without insurance. Safety net clinics are essential. There are recently 21 safety net clinics and there is a great need for many more to come. There are counties and regions in Kansas that have a lack of health care and dental offices. There is a high demand for medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and mental health services in most counties in Kansas. Southeast Kansas is currently in …show more content…
Opening a clinic in Parsons would provide care for over 5,000 patients who can not afford or access healthcare. Due to the restrictions in Kansas, there has not been an increase in Medicaid eligibility even though patients are not fortunate enough to be able to apply for the health insurance market place. Safety net clinics can help many those in Kansas who are not fortunate enough to have insurance. In addition, there is a growing need of care by the medically indigent to have safety net clinics to provide care for chronic illness. There needs to be a decrease in health disparities for the sake of the communities in Kansas. It is extremely important that the funding are maximize to carry out additional safety net clinics. Kansas is one of the few states that “is currently enacting legislation to protect medical providers when donating their services in free clinics” (ASTHO). This encourages the providers to want to be apart of such lifeline for health care. Safety net clinics are the lifeline for communities throughout America. There are too many people in America that are still …show more content…
The mission is to provide access to quality care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. The Kansas Safety net includes health care, dental care, and behavioral health services are funded through grants, donations, and fundraisers. The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved represents these nonprofit clinics and organizations, local health departments, and education programs to strengthen the healthcare through Kansas. Sedgwick County has many clinics throughout the county that serves those who are medically indigent. Sedgwick County focuses on providing exceptional health, dental, education, and prescription services. Other counties in Kansas are in higher demand of safety net clinics due to many reasons. Many other counties have a higher rates of unemployment and uninsured patients than Sedgwick County. There is also a lack of accessible care due to ratio of those who are incapable of affording health care and the number of health safety clinics. Safety net clinics are not only a lifeline for communities in Kansas, but also communities throughout the United