Primary care access problems of uninsured Hispanics: Exploring health care reform options

The purpose of this qualitative Delphi study was to explore for effective health care policy reform options to address the emerging crisis concerning the lack of access to primary care by the uninsured, low-income adult Hispanic Americans. The research focused on one central question: What health care policy reform options would be effective to address the primary care access problems of uninsured, low-income adult Hispanic Americans? The research was conducted using Delphi design questionnaires to obtain input from 35 research participants comprised of health care leaders and experts. The study involved three rounds of questionnaires to reach a consensus on 20 health care reform options, to include implementing insurance exchanges and individual/employer mandates. Five major themes that emerged from the study were (a) governmental intervention, (b) financing scheme, (c) choice protection, (d) competition implication, and (e) tax increase. The participants indicated governmental intervention was warranted to help mitigate the current access to primary care problems of the uninsured. Finding an acceptable balance between the government and private market jointly administering and financing the delivery of health care system will be a major challenge. The Obama Administration indicated a significant paradigm shift in the U.S. health care delivery and financing system if the reform legislation is passed and fully implemented by 2019. The new health care reform regulation presents major challenges and opportunities for health care leaders to prepare their organizations to be in a strategic position to better compete for customers and thrive in a changing complex health care environment.