Pfizer has generously supported the Community Practitioner Program (CPP) through a multi-year, $50,000 grant. CPP helps improve access to quality health care for disadvantaged North Carolina individuals and families by attracting new primary care practitioners and critically needed specialists to North Carolina’s most needy communities.
Pfizer’s support has helped the Program attract and support new providers in rural underserved areas of North Carolina; thereby providing access to quality primary care in these areas. Pfizer’s support to the Program has also allowed for an increase in patient visits by 138,600 annually and has improved health outcomes for persons suffering from chronic disease.
Despite the wealth of world-class health care resources located in some parts of North Carolina, the state as a whole lags well behind the national average in terms of access to health care. Distribution of providers is a key factor. Majorities live and work in major metropolitan areas, close to advanced medical and trauma centers or near one of the state’s four medical schools. With nearly half the population living in rural areas, however, access to health care remains a serious problem. Fifty-eight of North Carolina’s 100 counties are considered federal Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA).
In 2008 more than 1.5 million non-elderly people in North Carolina were uninsured and more than three-fifths of the uninsured have incomes of less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. The percentage of North Carolina’s minority population with no health care coverage is twice the national average. Between 2000 and 2008, North Carolina experienced a larger increase in the numbers of uninsured, and larger decrease in employer based coverage than most of the country.
As a key requirement of participation in the program, CPP providers and the practices in which they work, agree to treat the uninsured, Medicaid and Medicare patients, non-English speakers, immigrants and others at the margins of today’s health care system. Only 22% of patients seen by CPP providers have private insurance. On average, of CPP patients:
- 33% receive Medicaid
- 39% are Medicare recipients
- 18% have no insurance
- 41% are minorities
- 55% suffer from chronic disease
With the assistance of organizations like Pfizer, the Community Practitioner Program continues to thrive. The NCMS Foundation is grateful for their support.
To learn more about the work of Pfizer and the other programs they support, please visit their website.
