5 Great Organizations Helping People Access Health Care

There are many hurdles to accessing health care, ranging from difficulty getting appointments to inability to afford insurance or doctor visits. People often need extra help in order to get the medical attention they need. In no particular order, here are a few organizations working to break down barriers in health care.

First up at #1 is Amwell, a telemedicine company that connects patients with their providers over secure video chat. The platform's coverage spans the continuum of health care, from emergency medicine to treatment of acute health issues. Patients can also connect with their insurance companies and pharmacies using the software.

Amwell allows doctors to connect with each other, increasing access to specialists. The system is capable of supporting multi-way video, allowing up to eight caregivers, family members, and specialists to participate in appointments, creating a more collaborative healthcare experience.

At #2 is Kyruus. The company was created in response to systemic issues common to many health care scheduling systems. These problems forced patients to wait for extended periods of time to get appointments, only to end up seeing the wrong providers. To fix this, Kyruus is designed to enable a better, data-driven approach to patient-provider matching.

Kyruus partners with health systems to transform how people access care and schedule appointments. Its platform is built to give patients a more exact match to providers, creating a better experience for both them and their doctors. The platform embeds in a health system's website, enabling patients to identify the right providers and schedule appointments directly online.

Next up at #3 is the World Medical Association. This international organization provides physicians with ethical guidance through its Declarations, Resolutions and Statements, a document that covers a wide range of subjects including the right to accessible and inclusive health care. Founded in 1947, the WMA is an independent confederation of free professional associations.

In order to promote the highest possible standard of ethics, the WMA distributes several publications, including the Medical Ethics Manual, provided to academic journals and schools each year. The organization also publishes the World Medical Journal on a quarterly basis to discuss emerging issues. The WMA is in official relations with the World Health Organization, and allies with numerous other professional associations, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and regional associations.

At #4 is Clover Health, a health insurance provider with a Medicare contract. The company works with physicians in order to reduce communication issues between doctors and insurers. This increases transparency for patients, leading to improved care. The provider's Medicare Advantage plans have all the essentials, like hospital coverage, doctor visits, and drug coverage, plus no-cost extras, like vision, dental, and hearing.

Clover Health's dedicated care management team analyzes the health history of each patient to identify potential risks, and gets them access to appropriate care, tests, or treatment that their doctors recommend. It also follows up with x-rays or various tests to help patients understand the results and next steps.

Last up at #5 is Community Health Plan of Washington. CHPW was created in 1992, when the state's community and migrant health centers recognized that a significant number of people were not being served by traditional insurance companies. The group works hand-in-hand with local resources and social service organizations to support all aspects of members' lives, including behavioral, mental, and social supports.

CHPW is committed to providing access to medical services for Washington state residents, regardless of their ability to pay. It also helps members connect with community services beyond traditional health care, in order to access essentials such as food, housing, and transportation assistance.