April 4, 2017 Global Publication

Public health expenditure and health system responsiveness for low-income individuals: results from 63 countries

Improvement in overall responsiveness to people´s expectations is an important goal for any health system; socioeconomic equity in responsiveness is equally important. So this article assesses the relationship of the proportion of public health expenditure over total health expenditure (PPHE) with responsiveness for poorest individuals and the difference in responsiveness between the richest and poorest individuals. We use data from six responsiveness dimensions (prompt attention, dignity, choice, clarity of information, confidenciality and quality of basic amenities) of outpatient services from World Health Survey data from 63 countries. 

Nov. 26, 2020 Americas Publication

Enhanced Integrated Behavioral Health Model Improves Depressive Symptoms in a Low-Income, Uninsured, Primarily Hispanic Population Served by a Free and Charitable Clinic

Residents living in US-Mexico border communities have some of the worst health outcomes nationally. Rates of chronic disease such as obesity, diabetes, and related mortality in the Rio Grande Valley exceed those in most other regions of Texas and the nation. Poverty is pervasive, placing residents at high risk for poor health; they are more likely to be exposed to environmental hazards and have higher rates of chronic physical and mental health concerns.

At its foundation, integrated behavioral health care aims to address multiple health concerns, and related social determinants, by bringing behavioral health and primary care services together. No single model of integrated behavioral health care can be applied universally to health or social service settings; however, each approach is team-based and involves collaboration between multidisciplinary health and social service providers to achieve shared patient and community outcomes.

This randomized trial evaluated whether patients receiving enhanced integrated behavioral health ...