Baltimore City Clinics Treating More Uninsured, Sicker Patients, Study Finds

Community health clinics in Baltimore are treating more patients who are sicker and lack other alternatives, a survey of patients and doctors at the clinics found, the Baltimore Sun reports. Conducted by the Open Society Institute's Baltimore office, which awards grants to study "urban issues" including health care development, the study found that 60% of patients surveyed lack health insurance. Also, 80% of patients surveyed have at least one chronic medical condition, such as AIDS, hypertension or hepatitis, and 50% have a mental health problem. Because they lack insurance coverage, more than half of the patients questioned said they had "difficulty" receiving medical care, particularly dental treatment, primary care and prescription drugs. The Sun reports that about 40% of the patients said the city clinics are the only places they are able to receive treatment. If treatment from the clinics was not available, about 25% of the respondents said they would be "homeless, using drugs or dead." The survey also questioned doctors at the clinics, finding that more than 50% are "less confident" now than they were five years ago about their patients receiving "necessary health care." Also, 70% of the physicians said that the number of uninsured patients has increased, creating difficulties in referring patients for specialized care. Dr. Peter Beilenson, the city's health commissioner, said the study "is just another example of the consequences that lack of insurance has on everybody -- not just patients, but taxpayers" (Sugg, Baltimore Sun, 7/30).