Access of Hispanics to health care and cuts in services: A state-of-the-art overview

The most current research literature on the access of Hispanics to medical care is reviewed, and data from a 1982 national survey by Louis Harris and Associates on access to health care are presented to document current levels of access to health care of the Hispanic population. Through telephone interviews, 4,800 families were contacted, yielding a total sample of 6,610 persons. According to the survey's data, the ability of Hispanics to obtain health services is hampered by relatively low incomes, lack of health insurance coverage, and ties to a particular physician. However, Hispanics do not differ significantly from whites in their use of hospitals, physicians, or outpatient departments and emergency rooms. Hispanics are less satisfied than whites on a host of measures describing the most recent medical visit. These levels of dissatisfaction with the visit are similar to those of blacks. The recession and public care service cutbacks did not appear to result in a substantial reduction in the volume of medical care received by Hispanics and blacks. Still, the services available to minorities are viewed by them as less effective in meeting their needs in comparison with how whites view the services they receive. Further, the 1092 survey reveals particular difficulties and barriers for Hispanics in obtaining needed medical services. More than one-fifth of the Hispanic families had one or more significant problems in obtaining needed services.