Journal article
The Relationship Between Rural Health Clinic Use and Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries
The Journal of rural health, Vol.34(4), pp.423-430
2018
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12253
PMID: 28685852
Abstract
Purpose
High rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits indicate limited primary care access. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are intended to increase access to primary care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of RHCs and their impact on potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits among Medicare beneficiaries based on actual individual‐level utilization patterns.
Methods
With Medicare Part A and Part B claims data from 2007 to 2010, we constructed a series of individual‐level negative binomial regression models to examine the relationship between RHC use and the number of potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits.
Findings
RHC use was associated with a 27% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and a 24% increase in potentially preventable ED visits among older Medicare enrollees. Among younger, disabled Medicare beneficiaries, RHC use was associated with a 14% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and an 18% increase in potentially preventable ED visits. Potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits were more common among beneficiaries who were black or who had more chronic conditions.
Conclusions
The results of our study highlight that the Medicare population using RHCs is at especially high risk for potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits. The mechanisms behind this are not well understood and should receive continued attention from policy makers and researchers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Relationship Between Rural Health Clinic Use and Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries
- Creators
- Brad Wright - University of IowaAndrew J Potter - California State UniversityAmal N Trivedi - Providence Veterans Affairs Medical CenterKeith J Mueller - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, Vol.34(4), pp.423-430
- DOI
- 10.1111/jrh.12253
- PMID
- 28685852
- ISSN
- 0890-765X
- eISSN
- 1748-0361
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2018
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984064185302771
Metrics
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