Spiraling costs of medical care services and limited federal and state resources necessitate discriminating and cost-effective strategies for financing health care to indigent populations. „ Thus, while the selection among intervention strategies is aided by information on both the cost and benefits of program alternatives, data on the latter aspect is more difficult to obtain. Human capital research provides a mechanism for assessing one of the multifarious aspects of the benefits of medical services. Research suggests that labor market earnings opportunities are affected by health status. The present study explores this relationship for migrant farmworkers in a vegetable production county (Orange County) in upstate New York. Multivariate analysis indicated that mental well-being was an important predictor of earnings for migrant farmworkers. Directions for public health policy intervention strategies are also discussed. © 1991, Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

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rural area regression analysis medically uninsured Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. mental health human ethnic group Salaries and Fringe Benefits Hispanic Americans United States Community Health Centers New York Multivariate Analysis Agricultural Workers' Diseases Health Status Indicators Article Efficiency Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Transients and Migrants employment