Goal: Cass County residents will have access to quality health care.
"Access to comprehensive quality care is important to achieve health equity and increasing the quality of a healthy life for everyone."[134]
Note:Descriptions used directly from a printed document are in quotation marks and cited to the source.
Indicator 25: Regular Source of Primary Care
"Having a primary health care provider as the primary source of health care is especially important. Primary care providers are associated with increased likelihood that patients will receive appropriate care, illness prevention, disease detection, and appropriate health services referral, including specialty care." [134]
No Regular Primary Source of Primary Care
No source of primary care
| Cass County 1999 - 2004 |
North Dakota 2003 or 2004 Prevalence Percent |
United States 2002 or 2003 Median |
| 28.2% |
23.6% |
19.1% |
| Percentage of adult survey participants in respective geographic areas reporting do not have one person as your personal doctor or health care provider. Note: question eliminated from BRFSS survey. Please see Historical Questions for more information: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfssquest/ |
| Data Source: BRFSS: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention [118] [119] [120] |
Indicator 26: Dentist Visit
Check-ups can detect early signs of oral health problems and can lead to treatments that will prevent further damage and in some cases reverse the problem. [135]
More Than One Year Since Last Dentist Visit (Adult)
Percentage of adult survey participants in respective goegraphic areas reporting they did not visit the dentist or dental clinic within the past year for any reason.
| Location |
2002 |
2004 |
| Cass County |
25.9% |
23.6% |
| *Metro |
28.4% |
20.8% |
| North Dakota |
29.7% |
30.4% |
| United States |
29.2% |
29.7% |
| Percentage of adult survey participants in respective goegraphic areas reporting they did not visit the dentist or dental clinic within the past year for any reason |
| *Metro: Fargo, ND -Moorhead, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) |
| Data Source: BRFSS:Center for Disease Control and Prevention [118] [119] [120] |
Indicator 27: Health Insurance
"Health insurance coverage is a good indicator of progress toward the goal because it increases the likelihood that people will get the preventive care and treatment they need to stay healthy." [136]
People Without Health Insurance
Percentage of adults without health insurance
| Location |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Cass County |
10.4% |
10.5% |
9.0% |
7.8% |
10.0% |
7.7% |
6.6% |
| *Metro |
6.5% |
9.5% |
11.3% |
9.6% |
8.2% |
7.7% |
7.2% |
| North Dakota |
11.5% |
13.4% |
11.5% |
11.6% |
11.8% |
11.6% |
10.7% |
| United States |
14.5% |
14.8% |
14.5% |
14.5% |
14.5% |
14.6% |
14.4% |
| Percentage of adult Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey participants in respective geographic areas reporting no health care coverage in the past year. |
| Note: Question Change for 2006 Survey, "Do you have any kind of health care converage?" |
| Data Source: BRFSS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [118] [119] [120] |
| *Metro: Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) |
Indicator 28: Health Care Programs for Children
"The availability of, and access to, quality health care directly affects the health of mothers and children, especially those at high risk due to chronic medical conditions or low socio-economic status." [140]
2008 Medicaid Program Participants (Age 0 to 20)
| Location |
Particpants |
Percentage |
| Cass County |
8,380 |
21% |
| North Dakota |
44,333 |
24.9% |
| Number of people ages 0 to 20 who participated in the Medicaid Program in respective geographic areas |
| Percentage of people ages 0 to 20 who participated in the Medicaid Program out of the total population of people ages 0 to 20 in respective geographic areas |
The estimated population used is from North Dakota Kids Count Fact Books and include children and adolescents ages 0-17. The last population was published in 2007.
According to North Dakota Department of Human Services:
- "Persons ages 0 through 5 are eligible if the household income is 133% of the poverty level.
- Persons ages 6 through 19 are eligible in the household income is 100% of the poverty level."
Data Source: North Dakota KIDS COUNT! [82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] North Dakota Department of Human Services [89]
Average Monthly Participants in Healthy Steps Program (Age 0 to 19)
Average monthly number of people ages 0 to 19 participating in the Healthy Steps Program (SCHIP).
| Location |
2007 (Montly Avg.) |
2008 (Montly Avg.) |
2009 (Montly Avg.) |
| Cass County |
571 |
613 |
510 |
| North Dakota |
3,848 |
3,925 |
3,258 |
| Average monthly number of people ages 0 to 19 participating in the Healthy Steps Program (SCHIP) |
| Data Source: Children's Health Insurance Program, North Dakota Department of Humans Sevices [143] |
According to Department of Health and Human Services:
- "To qualify, a familys net income must be greater than the Medicaid level, but cannot exceed 140% of the federal poverty level." [145]
* Beginning in the fall of 2005, applicants started using one enrollment or re-enrollment form for Medicaid, Healthy Steps Program, and Caring for Children Program. One electric eligibility system is used for the State and County offices and children are assigned to the program based on their eligibility.
Number of Caring for Children Program Participants (Age 0 to 19)
| Location |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| Cass County |
255 |
234 |
223 |
226 |
220 |
186 |
167 |
| North Dakota |
1,082 |
1,159 |
1,329 |
1,289 |
1,213 |
1,093 |
925 |
| Unduplicated number of persons ages 0 to 19 participating in the Caring for Children Program in respective geographic areas. |
According to Caring for Children Program:
- "Persons ages 0 to 19 are eligible if the household income is between 140% and 200% of the poverty level.
- Children in this program cannot be eligible for Medicaid, Healthy Steps or other health insurance."
- Website: www.ndcaring.org
* Beginning in the fall of 2005, applicants started using one enrollment or re-enrollment form for Medicaid, Healthy Steps Program, and Caring for Children Program. One electric eligibility system is used for the State and County offices and children are assigned to the program that fits thier needs.
Data Source: North Dakota Department of Human Services, Caring for Children Program [143] [146]
