2009 Good Medicine Report Finds Need for Charitable Care Has Increased

Highlights from the 2009 Good Medicine Report

$400 million in charitable care and supplies

57 say demand for charitable care has increased in the past year

62 percent say this places an unsustainable burdeon on physicians

Educating the public to take responsibility for health is greatest need and the greatest challenge in practicing medicine

Last year, the first Good Medicine report from the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society found that many member physicians see the number of uninsured patients increasing, creating more demand for free or reduced-fee services, particularly in inner city and rural areas. The report estimated a total of $400 million of charitable care and supplies are provided through member physicians.

Furthermore, those members surveyed noted that there is critical need to educate patients about routine, preventive health care, and available local resources.

In 2009, the Good Medicine report revisited those results and asked member physicians about charitable care during the past year. The report also asked what they felt were the greatest health care needs in Pennsylvania. More than 400 physician members responded to the survey.

Essentially, the 2009 Good Medicine report found that our physician members are doing more for the uninsured and underinsured, but it may be reaching a level that is depleting resources.

When asked if the demand on their time for charitable care has changed within the past year, 57 percent said the demand has increased.

Sixty-two percent answered that the burden on physicians and health care providers to provide free or reduced cost care has reached an unsustainable level.

The greatest need within the health care industry, according to 50 percent of the respondents, is educating the public to take more responsibility for their own health .

Sixty-two percent of the respondents identified the same issue as the most challenging in their practice of medicine.

Here are a few stories about what our members are doing to address critical health care needs. You also can download a printable PDF of the report. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

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Comments: 2

Chuck get ready for comments!

Deborah at 1/14/2010 11:50:03 AM

I am testing this

anonymous at 1/14/2010 11:49:42 AM

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Last Updated: 12/8/2009

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