Does managed care gatekeeping affect African Americans' access to emergency care?
A number of national initiatives have focused attention on persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. The rising tide of improvements in health has not raised all boats; in some cases, the health gap between whites and minorities has widened. Although many social and economic forces contribute to this gap, inequitable access to health care also plays a part. This Issue Brief examines a common strategy that managed care organizations use to reduce emergency department visits--gatekeeping--and describes a study of the differential impact it may have on African Americans.
Lowe
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Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
D001741:Black or African American; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020793:Gatekeeping / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D044465:White People