And 100 percent of the teen-agers enrolled receive prenatal care. All of this leads to a repeat teen pregnancy rate of 5 percent, one-fifth the national average. Many working poor cannot afford medications when they become ill. This is a special problem for those suffering from a chronic disease, such as diabetes. Lack of medication leads to more visits to the emergency room and more days in the hospital.
Patients have greater access to care, and improved quality of life.
County of Milwaukee General Assistance Medical Program, of Milwaukee, Wis., provides funding to the medically indigent through a network of community organizations, clinics and hospitals. Since GAMP began in 1995, emergency room use by the indigent has dropped. The number of people receiving care through the program has increased by 7,000, indicating greater access to care. The cost per patient has also declined steeply, which is attributed to increased use of primary and preventive care. The program serves about 4,200 people with HIV and AIDS, including approximately 120 newly diagnosed patients each year.