Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
hospital procedures, uninsured, Salt Lake, medical insurance
College
Nursing
Abstract
Utah currently offers several government-funded insurance programs to help insure its residents who would otherwise go without. Despite the implementation of these programs, 18.9% of adults and 10% of children live in Utah without medical insurance (MSNBC Interactive, Utah Department of Health). This group of uninsured adults and children are at greater risk for delayed care, resulting in an increased likelihood for advanced illness and, therefore, decreased health (Ayanian et al, 2000). For this reason, it is important to identify those Utah residents not covered under a medical insurance policy and connect them with the proper programs. The hospital is an appropriate location to find Utah’s uninsured residents because between 21-40% of emergency room (ER) patients do not have medical insurance (Cunningham, 2006). One reason for such high rates of uninsured patients is due to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 which mandates uninsured patients cannot be turned away from the ER without treatment.
Recommended Citation
Barnett, Holly and Maughan, Dr, Erin
(2013)
"Effectiveness of Hospital Procedures for Insuring the Uninsured in the Salt Lake Area,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1653.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1653