A comparison of two approaches to increasing access to care: expanding coverage versus increasing physician fees.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the effects of a coverage expansion versus a Medicaid physician fee increase on children's utilization of physician services. PRIMARY DATA SOURCE: National Health Interview Survey (1997-2009).

Study design

We use the Children's Health Insurance Program, enacted in 1997, as a natural experiment, and we performed a panel data regression analysis using the state-year as the unit of observation. Outcomes include physician visits per child per year and the following indicators of access to primary care: whether the child saw a physician, pediatrician, or visited an ER in the last year, and whether the parents reported experiencing a non-cost-related access problem. We analyzed these outcomes among all children, and separately among socioeconomic status (SES)

SUBMITTER: White C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423185 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature