Effects of cost-containment strategies within managed care on continuity of the relationship between patients with depression and their primary care providers.
BACKGROUND
Continuity of the relationship between patients and primary care providers (PCPs) is an important component of care from the consumer perspective that may be affected by variation in cost containment strategies within managed care.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of cost containment strategies on the continuity of the relationship between their patients with depression and their PCPs.


METHODS
Observational analysis of a 2-year panel of depressed patients who participated in a quality improvement intervention trial in 46 managed care practices.


METHODS
One thousand two hundred four patients with current depression who enrolled in a longitudinal study, completed the baseline survey, and were followed for 2 years.


METHODS
The dependent variable is probability of continuing the relationship between patients and their PCPs; explanatory variables include individual patient mental health benefits and cost-sharing, individual provider financial incentives, supply-side managed care policies, and patient ratings of the care received.


RESULTS
The average duration of the patient-PCP relationship was significantly longer among depressed patients who initially had less generous benefits for specialty care (higher copays, P = 0.02 and fewer visits covered, P = 0.002) and for patients whose PCPs received a performance-based salary bonus from a risk pool (P = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
For depressed patients, cost containment strategies, such as limits on specialty benefits and presence of clinician bonus payments typically used within managed care may increase, rather than decrease, PCP continuity. Whether increased PCP continuity is a desirable outcome depends on whether health care systems can provide high quality primary care and this merits further study.
Meredith
L S
LS
RAND Health Program, Santa Monica, California 90407, USA. lisa_meredith@rand.org
Sturm
R
R
Camp
P
P
Wells
K B
KB
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
D000928:Antidepressive Agents