RESUMO
This study examined whether specialists designated as meeting efficiency thresholds in an insurance company's performance network were less likely than non-designated specialists to treat minority patients insured by that company. Claims data were used to identify patients treated by specialists. Claimants' race/ethnicity status was self-reported to the insurer at enrollment. In large part, minority patients appeared to be evenly distributed across the performance network, with the exception of Asian/Pacific Islanders, who appeared to be more likely to be treated by nondesignated physicians than by designated "good-performing" specialists.
Assuntos
Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde , Programas de Assistência Gerenciada/organização & administração , Grupos Minoritários , Feminino , Gastos em Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Medicina , Estudos de Casos Organizacionais , Garantia da Qualidade dos Cuidados de Saúde , Especialização , Estados UnidosRESUMO
We compared use of preventive, cancer screening, and diabetic monitoring services among 17,411 people who were continuously enrolled in a consumer-directed health plan (CDHP) for three years with a matched group of 128,444 people who were enrolled in a preferred provider organization (PPO). In the CDHPs, preventive and screening services were free. Levels and trends in use were similar between the two groups over the three years of follow-up. These results support varying the degree of cost sharing for services depending on the effect of the service on future health status and costs.