title: The influence of patient characteristics on ratings of managed behavioral health care.
abstract: Despite current emphasis on consumer-based performance measures, little is known about factors that influence consumer ratings of behavioral health care. This study examines the influence of patient characteristics, health care use, and insurance coverage on patients' ratings of their managed behavioral health care in both commercial and public plans. Older and healthier patients rated their behavioral health care and health plan more highly than did other patients. Patients with less education and those whose insurance paid all costs of care gave consistently higher plan ratings. Women and frequent users enrolled in commercial plans gave more positive care ratings. After adjusting for enrollee characteristics and coverage, there were no differences between ratings of patients in commercial and public plans. These results are consistent with other research that illustrates the importance of adjusting health care ratings for patient characteristics when comparing plans.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Sciences University, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shaul
authors.forename: Susan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cleary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011632:Public Assistance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014481:United States