Page 107 - 2015 Compass Now

and the number of people per primary care providers (based on 2012 data). La Crosse and Houston scored
the highest on the rate of uninsured adults. La Crosse County scored highest on the number of people per
primary care provider. Trempealeau had the highest patient to primary care provider ratio at 3,255:1.

Access to dental care is also difficult to measure. Several areas within the Great Rivers Region are
designated to be Federal Health Professional Shortage areas for dental care. This indicates a shortage
of dentists providing care to low income populations. These areas include Vernon, Monroe, and parts of
Trempealeau counties.

Participants in the COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey rated access to health care as one of
the highest strengths, scoring an average of 3.36 on a scale of 1 to 4. Overall, 56% of Great Rivers Region
respondents rated access to health care as excellent, and 35% rated access to health care as good. Access
to mental health also rated fairly high by participants, with 37.9% rating it as excellent and 55% rating it as
good. Access to dental care was rated slightly lower overall, with 31.3% rating it as excellent and just under
53% rating it as good. Older adults rated overall access to health care higher than younger adults. Those
with a higher level of education rated access to health care better than those with a lower level of education,
as did those with higher incomes. Males and females rated access to health care equally (see Figure 6).

Access to Health Care Access to Dental Care Access to Mental Health Care

Poor/Fair Poor/Fair
9% 7%

Good Poor/Fair Good Excellent Good
35% 16% 53% 38% 55%

Excellent Excellent
56% 31%

Figure 6: Access to Health Care, Dental Care, and Mental Health Care HEALTH

Source: COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey

Access to all health care services was a reoccurring topic for discussion at COMPASS Council meetings and
community conversations. This was especially true for mental health services and dental care access. Access
could mean proximity to home, availability of public transportation to these areas, hours of operation,
and/or the ability to utilize insurance at the most convenient or preferred health care institution.

The cost of health care

The cost of health care is a topic that continues to be discussed and debated, even after the passing of the
Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was created in an attempt to make health care more available for those with
little or no coverage. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2013, U.S. health
care spending was about $9,255 per resident and accounted for 17.4% of the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation identified some factors that are driving the cost of health care
in the U.S., including fee-for-service reimbursement; fragmented care delivery systems; administrative
burden of providers, payers, and patients; aging population, rising rates of chronic disease and co-
morbidities; and lifestyle factors/health choices.

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