Access to Health Care by the Poor: Two Solutions to a Growing Crisis
As part of the overall solution to the health care crisi, facing the poor. the Catholic Health Association cons id ers first the role of the health care profession. In particular, the responsibility of Christian profess ional s to the poor is realized in three ways: service of the poor, advocacy on their behalf, and renewal of Catho lic hospitals' mission to the poor. I The CHA proposes that each Catholic health facilit y or group manifest its option for the poor in the annua l planning and budgetary process. so that decisions are eva luated in terms of their impact upon the poor. Next, it calls upon Catholic health facilities to be advocates for the poor. In particular, the CHA should formulate annually a federal program on health care for the poor which it should then sponsor in the p ' oper forums. Moreover, each Catholic health faci lity shou ld seek to promote health care legislation for the poor with state and federal legislators. Finally. the C H A and Catholic health associations should collaborate with others in their advocacy efforts on behalf of the poor. The CHA also recommends that Catho lic health care professionals develop crea ti ve, spiritua l, and educational programs that will assist them to better understand the needs of th e poor. as well as to experience the poverty of sp irit in which the power of God is found. Both the CHA and local hea lth care facilitie s should set up such programs . The American Hospital Assoc iation is more restrained in delineating the responsibility of the health care profession toward the medically indigent. Hospitals are to maintain their traditional commitment to provide medical care to those in need, including the medically indigent 2 They are to provide emergency care to all people a nd make proper