title: Disparities in access to healthcare: the case of a drug and alcohol abuse detoxification treatment program among minority groups in a Texas hospital.
abstract: The authors analyzed ethnic/racial disparities in healthcare access and length of stay from a defined population of individuals seeking medical detoxification services at a hospital in Texas. Results indicated Blacks were more likely to be insured compared with Whites, mostly by public insurance, but this did not hold for Hispanics, who were about three times more likely to be uninsured compared with Blacks. In addition, the authors observed lower median of length of stay in the Medicaid category among Hispanics. These results can be explained by aggressive case management, sociocultural barriers, or discriminatory practices, both intentional and unintentional.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coustasse
authors.forename: Karan P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Trevino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013781:Texas