Following health reform in 2006, safety-net hospitals and community health centers, which were originally created to serve the underserved and uninsured, have not seen a decrease in demand. Despite Massachusetts’ law mandating health insurance coverage, the number of patients receiving care from community health centers actually increased by 31 percent between 2005 and 2009, while individuals seeking care at safety-net hospitals rose 9.2 percent in non-emergency ambulatory care and 1.8 percent in inpatient admissions. The loyalty of low income patients to safety-net providers suggests that such institutions around the country may have a continued role after 2014, the year in which the health insurance exchanges will be operational.
