Summary: To make its September 1991 testimony on Hispanic access to health care more widely available, GAO has published its remarks as a blue cover report. For most Americans, the first step in accessing health care is acquiring health insurance. Hispanics, however, are much less likely than others to have such coverage. GAO found that type of employment and income are key determinants of the high rates of noninsurance among Hispanics. Public health insurance--Medicaid--is one potential solution for persons who cannot afford private health insurance. However, Hispanics in some states, particularly Mexican-Americans, have problems in gaining access to Medicaid because of stringent state eligibility criteria. While data on the prevalence of disease among Hispanics are limited, it is clear that the high rate of noninsurance and an apparent scarcity of primary care facilities together make Hispanics particularly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. Initial steps toward achieving a more rational health care delivery process for Hispanics involve more adequate health insurance coverage (both private and public), expanded neighborhood access to primary care, and major improvements in available data to allow appropriate planning and evaluation.
