Quality of life and patient satisfaction: ESRD managed care demonstration.
To study the effects of managed care on dialysis patients, we compared the quality of life and patient satisfaction of patients in a managed care demonstration with three comparison samples: fee-for-service (FFS) patients, managed care patients outside the demonstration, and patients in a separate national study. Managed care patients were less satisfied than FFS patients about access to health care providers, but more satisfied with the financial benefits (copayment coverage, prescription drugs, and nutritional supplements) provided under the demonstration managed care plan (MCP). After 1 year in the demonstration, patients exhibited statistically and clinically significant increases in quality of life scores.
Pifer
Trinh B
TB
University Renal Research and Education Association, 315 W. Huron, Suite 260, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA. tpifer@urrea.org
Bragg-Gresham
Jennifer L
JL
Dykstra
Dawn M
DM
Shapiro
Jennifer R
JR
Oppenheimer
Caitlin Carroll
CC
Gaylin
Daniel S
DS
Beronja
Nancy
N
Rubin
Robert J
RJ
Held
Philip J
PJ
D002140:California; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States