KCPA is a program that encourages the donation of charity health care services for the uninsured by local specialist physicians and hospital systems.

Throughout the United States, more than 50 communities have developed their own Project Access models. From Newport, California, to Asheville, North Carolina, to Anchorage, Alaska, each Project Access is unique to meet the needs of a local community. However, all Project Accesses have common principles of a coordinated charity system for low-income vulnerable patients that is shared across a broad field of health care providers. 

Although KCPA shares a similar mission to other programs across the country, certain elements of King County’s program are distinctive:

• KCPA’s robust case management program removes logistical and financial barriers for patients and volunteer providers.
• KCPA screens all patient referrals to ensure that appropriate tests and paperwork are completed BEFORE the uninsured patient goes to see a specialist.
• More than $5 million of medical care was donated in 2009. KCPA leverages donation dollars and provides funders with a 15:1 return on their invested dollar.
• KCPA is growing to meet the demand for services. Since the program began they have recruited more than 280 volunteer physicians, six community hospitals and a host of other medical services such as lab tests, x-ray and others.

The PHPDA was an original funder of this innovative program in 2006 with a grant of $50,000, and also provided funding in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 and 2010, the PHPDA provided a grant of $150,000 to help expand the program. Due to the support of the PHPDA and others, King County Project Access was able to serve nearly 1500 patients in 2009, more than a 30% increase over 2008.

For more information on KCPA, visit www.kcprojectaccess.org.