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.
• Nearly $5 million of medical care was donated in 2008. 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, 6 community hospitals and a host of other medical services such as lab tests, x-ray and others.

In 2008, the Pacific Hospital PDA provided more than $115,000 to support the work of King County Project Access.

The PHPDA was an original funder of this innovative program in 2006 with a grant of $50,000. In 2007, the PHPDA made a $100,000 grant, which KCPA was able to leverage to secure additional funding. PHPDA’s financial support represented almost one-third of KCPA funding in 2007. In 2008, the PHPDA has provided an additional $100,000 grant. In 2007 KCPA received more than 1000 referrals from safety net clinics and 595 patients had specialty appointments, an increase of almost 40 percent from 2006.

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