Jacqueline R. Scott, BA, JD, Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, part of the Harrision Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, 50 F Street, NW, Suite 8300, Washington, DC 20001, 202-662-4229, jbs@law.georgetown.edu and Michael W. Tan, BS, JD, Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, part of the Harrison Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, 50 F Street, NW, Suite 8300, Washington, DC 20001.

Universal healthcare is a hot topic that has been the focus of numerous political campaigns, healthcare conferences, and proposed legislation. The rhetoric surrounding providing universal healthcare focuses on securing insurance for all. But does insurance really guarantee access? If you build it, will they really come? The Center for Sustainable Health Outreach has researched and analyzed many of these new proposals for their impact on vulnerable populations – the working poor, the uninsured, underinsured, and those on the fringes of the “safety net”. This interactive presentation will discuss a broad sample of state policies and proposed options addressing the issue of access to care. There will be a particular focus on: (1) the barriers to access, and (2) the role of the community health worker in guaranteeing access within these policies and proposals. The presentation will be done by representatives of the Center for Sustainable Health Outreach and CHW's.

Learning Objectives:

• To educate participants on the healthcare reform measures being proposed through state legislatures and federal legislation.
• To educate CHW's about the critical role they can play in the provision of healthcare under these proposals.
• To provide policy options for closing the barriers to access to care and for the inclusion of CHW's into new healthcare delivery systems.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Universal Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Sustainable Health Outreach
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.