Fact Check: "Preventable deaths can result from lack of access to healthcare."
What We Know
The claim that preventable deaths can result from lack of access to healthcare is supported by a variety of studies and reports. A narrative literature review published in Front Public Health indicates that while improvements in healthcare access have contributed to a decline in mortality rates, the lack of corresponding improvements in the quality of care has led to an increase in preventable deaths. The review highlights that mortality due to poor quality care is projected to rise from 5 million in 2015 to an estimated 6 million by 2024, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in healthcare delivery (source-1).
Furthermore, a study from Yale University estimates that ensuring healthcare access for all Americans could save over 68,000 lives annually. This study underscores the critical link between healthcare access and mortality, noting that millions of Americans lack adequate health insurance and access to necessary medical services (source-2). Additional research has indicated that proposed changes to Medicaid and other health programs could lead to over 51,000 preventable deaths annually, further supporting the claim that lack of access to healthcare can have dire consequences (source-3, source-4).
Analysis
The evidence presented in the literature strongly supports the claim that lack of access to healthcare can lead to preventable deaths. The review in Front Public Health provides a comprehensive overview of mortality trends related to healthcare access and quality, indicating that while access has improved, the quality of care remains a significant concern. This dual challenge of access and quality is critical in understanding the factors contributing to preventable deaths (source-1).
The Yale study adds to this by quantifying the potential lives saved through improved access, which reinforces the assertion that inadequate healthcare access is a direct contributor to preventable mortality. The estimates of preventable deaths due to proposed policy changes further illustrate the risks associated with reduced healthcare access (source-2, source-3, source-4).
The sources used in this analysis are credible, with peer-reviewed studies and reports from reputable institutions such as Yale University and the World Health Organization. However, it is important to acknowledge that while the studies provide robust data, they may also reflect the biases inherent in the healthcare systems they analyze, particularly in the context of U.S. healthcare policy debates.
Conclusion
The claim that preventable deaths can result from lack of access to healthcare is True. The evidence from multiple studies clearly demonstrates a strong correlation between healthcare access and mortality rates. Improvements in access can lead to significant reductions in preventable deaths, while lack of access continues to pose a serious risk to public health.
Sources
- Healthcare Access vs. Quality Healthcare: Rethinking Healthcare Risks ... PubMed
- Improving the Prognosis of Healthcare in the United States PMC
- Proposed changes to Medicaid, other health programs could lead to over ... Yale School of Public Health
- House Bill Seen Causing 51,000 Preventable Deaths Annually University of Pennsylvania
- Avoidable deaths are on the rise in the U.S., yet falling in many peer ... Brown University
- WHO warns of slowing global health gains in new statistics ... WHO
- New data: noncommunicable diseases cause 1.8 million avoidable deaths ... WHO Europe
- U.S. Health Care Rankings by State 2025 | Commonwealth Fund Commonwealth Fund
