Access to Quality Health Services

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     Access to quality, comprehensive health care – including dental and mental health services, is critical to the elimination of health disparities and to increasing the quality and years of healthy life for New Hampshire residents. Those lacking access to primary health care are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of an illness, be admitted to a hospital, die in the hospital, and have a higher mortality rate than those with good access to preventive services and ambulatory health care.
     Barriers to access include lack of insurance coverage, lack of a usual source of care, lack of money to pay for care, and lack of knowledge or skepticism about the benefits of care. A shortage of health care providers to address general and special needs, a lack of healthcare facilities, cultural differences, language differences, and transportation difficulties present additional barriers. 
     In 1998, the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the status of the healthcare system in New Hampshire and identified the need to improve access to services for people less able to use existing health services. The Guidelines for Change⁴ proposed specific changes to the healthcare system to improve access and create a healthier New Hampshire. State and local leaders are working together to implement those changes by developing community coalitions and using local leadership to tailor and increase the accessibility of services.

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