Massachusetts health care reform and reduced racial disparities in minimally invasive surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Racial disparities in receipt of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) persist in the United States and have been shown to also be associated with a number of driving factors, including insurance status. However, little is known as to how expanding insurance coverage across a population influences disparities in surgical care.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of Massachusetts health care reform on racial disparities in MIS.

Design, setting, and participants

A retrospective cohort study assessed the probability of undergoing MIS vs an open operation for nonwhite patients in Massachusetts compared with 6 control states. All discharges (n = 167,560) of nonelderly white, black, or Latino patients with government insurance (Medicaid or Commonwealth Care insurance) or

SUBMITTER: Loehrer AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3991927 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature