Access to urologic care for children in California: Medicaid versus private insurance.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the access to urologic care for a child with cryptorchidism insured by Medi-Cal versus one insured by private insurance. Medi-Cal (California State Medicaid) is a joint state and federal health insurance program that plays a significant role in providing healthcare coverage to low-income children.


METHODS
A total of 54 randomly chosen urology offices throughout California were surveyed by telephone to determine whether the office accepted pediatric patients, accepted Medi-Cal, and when the earliest appointment date would be for a patient with Medi-Cal versus one with private insurance.


RESULTS
Of the 46 practices that accepted pediatric patients, 96% offered a new patient appointment to a child with private insurance, but only 41% were willing to offer an appointment to a child with Medi-Cal (P < 0.0001). Of the offices that would not see a child with Medi-Cal, 75% were unable to recommend a urology office that might accept Medi-Cal.


CONCLUSIONS
Children insured by Medi-Cal have significantly less access to necessary urologic care compared with children with private insurance.
Hwang
Andrew H
AH
Division of Urology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA. ahwang@chla.usc.edu
Hwang
Margaret M
MM
Xie
Hui-Wen
HW
Hardy
Brian E
BE
Skaggs
David L
DL
D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000628:therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D017149:Private Sector; D014572:Urology