Healthcare providers' satisfaction with a State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
OBJECTIVE
This study's purpose was to understand how experiences with and perceptions of the health care plan characteristics influence provider satisfaction with a State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).


METHODS
Physicians and other health care providers participating in one program (ALL Kids) were mailed a survey (n = 500). Pediatricians were the most likely to return the survey. We used frequencies, chi-square and logistic regression analysis to explore relationships.


RESULTS
The odds of being less satisfied with the program among providers who perceived that reimbursement in the ALL Kids program was less compared to private insurance were almost 7 times (OR = 6.81; 95% CI = (1.88-24.73)) greater than for those who perceived that reimbursement was more or the same in ALL Kids. Likewise, respondents who perceived that All Kids families were less likely than families with private insurance to return for follow-up visits were less satisfied with ALL Kids (OR = 17.42; 95% CI = (1.85-164.70)).


CONCLUSIONS
The stigma of SCHIP may be less than that often associated with Medicaid; however, this investigation should be considered with others that have identified barriers for provider's participation. This study indicates that provider satisfaction is related to their perceptions of SCHIP policies and families, though it does not tell us what factors might contribute to this perception, such as, previous experience with public insurance (Medicaid) and publicly insured patients. Increasing reimbursement rates may not address perceptions that affect provider views of publicly-supported health plans and the participating families.
Mulvihill
Beverly A
BA
Department of Maternal and Child Health RPHB 320, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA. bmulvihi@uab.edu
Obuseh
Francis A
FA
Caldwell
Cathy
C
D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*