This Commonwealth Fun issue of States in Action examines federal and state efforts to increase access to basic health care. It describes a variety of state strategies, mostly involving expanding and leveraging the primary care workforce and developing new models of care delivery.

From the report:

There are many federal programs dedicated to reducing barriers to care. HRSA's Bureau of Health Professions, for example, addresses workforce shortages and insufficient diversity in the health workforce by identifying areas of need and administering a variety of grants and other funding for health professional education and training. HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care provides funding and technical assistance to federally qualified health centers, which provide care to uninsured, low-income, and underserved populations. Table 1 lists federal programs that benefit health care workforce shortage areas.

Full report: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/States-in-Action/2010/Mar/March-April-2010/Feature/Feature.aspx

This Commonwealth Fund. (2010). State and federal efforts to enhance access to basic health care.