“Low-income” is defined by HRSA as an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. In the Rockbridge service area, 38% of residents meet the criteria for “low-income.”47 As indicated below, the vast majority of uninsured children and adults fall into this “low-income” category. Low-income and uninsured residents are less likely to have a specific source of ongoing care. Uninsured Children48 VA Percent Uninsured Children Age 0-18 Percent Uninsured Children living at 200% FPL or below
Buena Vista Lexington Rockbridge
7%
9%
7%
9%
65.50%
75.40%
67.40%
70.70%
Uninsured Adults49
Percent Uninsured Adults Age 19-64 Percent Uninsured Adults living at 200% FPL or below
VA
Buena Vista
Lexington
Rockbridge
14.6%
21.7%
16.3%
19.8%
73.60%
78.20%
80.50%
79.50%
Primary Care Physicians The number of primary care physicians present in a community is often used to assess health care access in the literature. While there is evidence to support the positive correlation between primary care physicians and improved health outcomes for individuals, there are limitations to using this measure to quantify health care access for populations. The limitations result from the fact that individuals may choose to travel out of their own community to receive care and uninsured residents are often unable to afford the care. In some cases, even secure insurance status does not guarantee access to services. To remain financially viable, primary care practices often have to impose limits on the percentage of active Medicaid and Medicare patients.
47
American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, US Census Bureau, 2006-2010 Virginia Atlas of Community Health, 2011 49 Virginia Atlas of Community Health, 2011 48
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