Government
Patient navigators will help uninsured
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 4, 2005
The House recently passed a measure to establish a demonstration project to fund "patient navigator" programs that would help chronically ill, uninsured patients access health resources available to them in low-income and rural areas. The bill would provide $25 million over five years to the programs, which would educate these patients about treatment options, find clinical trials and obtain referrals for them.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and by helping detect illnesses early, this bill will decrease the cost of health care in the country," said the measure's sponsor, Bob Menendez (D, N.J.). A companion bill has been passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee and been placed on the Senate calendar.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/04/gvbf0704.htm.
