Influence of Medical Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act on Access to Pain Management of the Trauma Patient.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

The Affordable Care Act intended to "extend affordable coverage" and "ensure access" for vulnerable patient populations. This investigation examined whether the type of insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross, cash pay) carried by trauma patients influences access to pain management specialty care.

Methods

Investigators phoned 443 board-certified pain specialists, securing office visits with 235 pain physicians from 8 different states. Appointments for pain management were for a patient who sustained an ankle fracture requiring surgery and experiencing difficulty weaning off opioids. Offices were phoned 4 times assessing responses to the 4 different payment methodologies.

Results

Fifty-three percent of pain specialists contacted (235 of 443

SUBMITTER: Wiznia DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5173388 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan/Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature