Laws requiring health plans to provide direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists, and use of cancer screening by women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many states have passed legislation mandating that health plans provide direct access to obstetricians/gynecologists (hereinafter "ob/gyns") for women, limiting the ability of plans to require referrals or otherwise restrict access. One benefit of these laws may be improved preventive screening rates, but no literature has examined the relationship between ob/gyn direct access laws and use of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening.

Data and methods

We use repeated cross-sections of privately insured women age 18-64 (Pap test) and 40-64 (mammography) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 1996-2000, linked to data on the presence of ob/gyn direct access laws by state. Outcome measures are receipt of mammography and receipt of a Pap test within

SUBMITTER: Baker LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1955247 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature