Helping States Increase Primary Care That Is Affordable, Available, and Appropriate
The Role of States in Health Workforce Development
Now is a critical time for states to consider their role in developing the health care wokforce, particularly primary care providers. The rapid changes in our health care system, especially the extraordinary growth of managed care in general and Medicaid managed care in particular, are having a dramatic effect on our health workforce needs and on the role of states.
Managed care organizations have an increasing responsibility to assure the availability of providers to meet the needs of Medicaid recipients, state employees, and rural residents. However, states themselves have clear incentives to maintain, if not increase, their involvement in health workforce development. The primary reason for state involvement is that the marketplace alone is unlikely to produce primary care providers willing to serve rural and underserved populations. State funding and regulatory intervention are therefore needed to achieve this result.
| 1995.Oct_.helping.states.increase.primary.care_.pdf | 1.4 MB |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
