Reducing disparities in utilization of mamography: reaching dually eligible women in Connecticut.
This article describes a two-pronged intervention by the health care Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Connecticut to address the disparity in rates of mammography screening between women eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (i.e., "dually eligible") and other Medicare beneficiaries. The interventions were directed beneficiaries. One intervention addressed information and access needs of the target population: an education session was followed by a mobile mammography van session at low-income housing sites in specific geographic areas. The second intervention was a culturally-sensitive direct mailing to dually eligible beneficiaries across the state. Implementation methods are described including: defining and identifying the target population; specifying the disparity; developing community collaboration; and testing the mail materials. Preliminary results of the education sessions and community testing of the direct mail materials generated information about the target population. Issues in implementation and analysis include: reaching the target population, building community relations, and developing design approaches to test the intervention.
Barr
Judith K
JK
Qualidigm, Middletown, CT, USA.
Kelvey-Albert
Michelle
M
Curry
Maureen
M
Gaudiosi
Alisa
A
Testa
Katie
K
Elwell
Anne
A
Petrillo
Marcia
M
Meehan
Thomas P
TP
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003237:Connecticut; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D016730:Program Development; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors