The Health Authority promotes development of medical homes for the uninsured to ensure continuity of primary care and to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in access and quality. The Common wealth Fund, in a 2006 Health Care Quality Survey, found that when adults have a medical home their access to health care services improves dramatically. Something as simple as patient reminders from a familiar health center increases use of preventive screening. Also, according to the Commonwealth Fund:
➢    Hispanics and African Americans are vulnerable: their uninsured rates are higher and less likely than whites to have access to a regular doctor or source of care.
➢    By definition, a medical home provides patients with enhanced access to health care providers.
➢    Medical homes reduce disparities in access to care.
➢    Use of reminders for preventive care results in higher rates of screenings, such as cholesterol and cancer at medical homes and there are no racial disparities for those receiving preventive care.
➢    Adults with medical homes are better prepared to manage their chronic conditions.
➢    Community health centers and public clinics, which care for many uninsured, low income people, are less likely than private doctors’ offices to have features of a medical home.

For more details on the Commonwealth Fund survey:  www.commonwealthfund.org/publications .