Journal article
Examining Differences in Wait Times for Primary Care in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) by Race and Ethnicity: What Role Do Within-facility and Between-facility Differences Play?
Medical care, Vol.64(3), pp.153-160
03/2026
DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000002279
PMID: 41486581
Abstract
Prior studies at the national level indicate that primary care wait times exceeded the 20-day veterans Health Administration (VA) wait time standards set for primary care. Longer wait times were also reported for Black and Hispanic versus White veterans.
Examine variation in wait time for primary care at the facility level by race and ethnicity over time and determine whether differences are due to within-facility differences (ie, at the same facility) or between-facility differences (ie, differences in facilities used).
Observational study using VA and Community Care (CC) data from Fiscal Year (FY) FY2021 to FY2023.
All veterans (n=642,180) who had an outpatient primary care consult in VA or CC.
Wait time for an outpatient primary care consult.
We used multivariate regression models calculated using all 3 FYs combined and separately by FY models to predict consult wait times. We then used the Kitagawa decomposition to partition differences in mean adjusted wait times between Hispanic/Black veterans and White veterans into within-facility differences and between-facility differences.
Overall, Hispanic veterans waited on average 6.7 days longer than White veterans, attributed to longer wait times within the same facility. Black veterans waited 1.2 days less than White veterans, partially accounted for by their higher use of facilities with shorter wait times for all veterans. Within-facility results were reasonably stable across FYs.
Continued investigation at the local level is important for ensuring timely access to primary care for all racial and ethnic groups.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Examining Differences in Wait Times for Primary Care in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) by Race and Ethnicity: What Role Do Within-facility and Between-facility Differences Play?
- Creators
- Amy K Rosen - VA Boston Healthcare SystemErin Beilstein-Wedel - VA Salt Lake City Healthcare SystemDeborah Gurewich - VA Boston Healthcare SystemHeather Davila - University of IowaMichael Shwartz - VA Boston Healthcare System
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Medical care, Vol.64(3), pp.153-160
- DOI
- 10.1097/MLR.0000000000002279
- PMID
- 41486581
- NLM abbreviation
- Med Care
- ISSN
- 0025-7079
- eISSN
- 1537-1948
- Publisher
- Lippincott
- Grant note
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: SDR 20-390-A, RCS 97-40
This study was funded by the VA HSR&D grant SDR 20-390-A. Dr. Rosen was also funded through a VA Senior Research Career Scientist Award (RCS 97-40). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/05/2026
- Date published
- 03/2026
- Academic Unit
- Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985116067502771
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