Improving Medicaid pediatric care.
This article uses Medicaid claims data to examine the adequacy of well-child care provided by different ambulatory care providers for selected children enrolled in Maryland Medicaid. Considerable provider variation was observed. The majority of the nearly one-quarter of the children with no well-child visits during the year appeared to have had no regular primary care source. Results contributed to the development of a managed care program designed to increase care accessibility and continuity and improve provider practices. Advantages and disadvantages of using claims data to investigate this public health issue care discussed.
Stuart
M E
ME
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, USA.
Steinwachs
D
D
Starfield
B
B
Orr
S
S
Kerns
A
A
D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008396:Maryland; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States