Primary care performance in fee-for-service and prepaid health care systems. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in the quality of primary care delivered in prepaid and fee-for-service (FFS) health care systems.


METHODS
Longitudinal study of 1208 adult patients with chronic disease whose health insurance was through a traditional indemnity (FFS) plan, an independent practice association (IPA), or a health maintenance organization (HMO). Both IPA and HMO represent prepaid care systems. Patient- and physician-provided information was obtained by self-administered questionnaires.


METHODS
A total of 303 physician offices (family medicine, general internal medicine, endocrinology, or cardiology) in solo and group practices in three US cities.


METHODS
Seven indicators of primary care quality--accessibility (financial and organizational), continuity, comprehensiveness, coordination, and accountability (interpersonal and technical) of care. Performance on each was evaluated in FFS, IPA, and HMO settings. Analyses controlled for patient and physician characteristics.


RESULTS
Financial access was highest in prepaid systems. Organizational access, continuity, and accountability were highest in the FFS system. Coordination was highest and comprehensiveness was lowest in HMOs.


CONCLUSIONS
The results mark notable differences in core dimensions of primary care quality in each of three payment systems and raise questions regarding the associated cost inefficiencies and outcomes of care. In the current health care delivery reform climate, these findings call for consideration of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each system. We suggest strategies for elevating performance in each.
Safran
D G
DG
Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
Tarlov
A R
AR
Rogers
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D017061:Prepaid Health Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States