Access to quality, affordable healthcare and health insurance are critical to the public’s well-being. Almost half of Americans struggle to afford the care they need, regardless of whether they have active health insurance coverage. Nearly one in three people cannot access the appropriate healthcare providers because they don’t have local providers and healthcare facilities or reliable transportation to travel for care.
Public health agencies in states, territories, and freely associated states can work to mitigate and eliminate barriers to care through partnerships healthcare delivery systems, expanding access to healthcare providers and community-based public health workforces, and improving uptake of telehealth, among other strategies. ASTHO is committed to expanding access to healthcare services and supports public health professionals by facilitating these critical partnerships and providing tools and resources to design and operationalize sustainable strategies.
Featured
Expanding Pharmacist-Prescribed HIV PrEP
PrEP is a powerful tool to reduce new HIV infections; expanding access to PrEP is a priority within the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative. One way to increase access to PrEP is by allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense it.
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Maintaining Patient Access to Care in Rural America
This webinar explores federal priorities related to rural healthcare access and highlights a successful model to ensure rural patients can access hospital services.
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Financing Strategies to Support Community Health Workers
These presentation slides provide an overview of different financing mechanisms to support CHW workforce, such as through Medicaid state plan amendments, 1115 demonstration waivers, managed care contracts, alternative payment models, and grant and provider funding.
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State Primary Care Offices Expand Access to Care and Improve Health Equity
ASTHO sat down with Alisa Druzba, director of the New Hampshire State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, to spotlight PCO contributions to health equity and access to care.
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State Approaches to Community Health Worker Certification
States continue make meaningful inroads in developing certification programs that match the needs of public health, the communities they serve, and the community health workers providing services.
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Telehealth and Licensure Policies Improving Healthcare Access for Rural Communities
Recent legislation at both the state and federal levels has significantly affected the ability of healthcare providers to serve patients virtually and across state lines.
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Changes to 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CHI Services
Policy Cheat Sheet
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Leveraging Healthy People 2030 to Build Non-Traditional Multisector Partnerships
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Summary of FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
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Cross Sector Collaborations: Addressing Health Inequities in Access to Care Through Public Health and Transportation Partnerships
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Collaborations
ASTHO manages online communities for state and territorial primary care office staff and telehealth program leads to share information, network, and engage in meaningful discussions between jurisdictions.
ASTHO regularly engages with key partners to advance state and territorial population health priorities. Key partners include:
- Center for Connected Health Policy
- Center for Health Care Strategies
- CDC
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- National Association of Community Health Workers
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health