Longstanding problems that defy simple solutions, such as access to healthcare in low-income neighborhoods, were among the top concerns raised in an extensive overview of health needs in Milwaukee County. The assessment was the first of its kind and must be done by nonprofit health systems every three years to maintain their tax-exempt status under the Affordable Care Act. The community health needs assessment, done in collaboration with municipal health departments, also cited insurance coverage and access to dental, behavioral health and prenatal care as services that need to be improved. All are well-documented challenges facing the health system in Milwaukee County. But Joy Tapper, executive director of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, which includes the Milwaukee health systems, said the assessment reinforced the key needs as well as the racial and economic disparities in the county.
