Health reform and primary care capacity: evidence from Houston/Harris County, Texas.
This study estimated the possible surge in demand for primary care among the low-income population in Houston/Harris County under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and related it to existing supply by safety-net providers. A model of the demand for primary care visits was developed based on California Health Interview Survey data and applied to the Houston/Harris County population. The current supply of primary care visits by safety-net providers was determined by a local survey. Comparisons indicate that safety-net providers in Houston/Harris County are currently meeting about 30% of the demand for primary care visits by the low-income population, and the rest are either met by private practice physicians or are unmet. Demand for primary care by this population is projected to increase by 30% under health reform leading to a drop in demand met by safety-net providers to less than 25%.
Management, Policy, and Community Health, University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, Texas, USA. Charles.e.Begley@uth.tmc.edu
Charles
C
Begley
Phuc
P
Le
David
D
Lairson
Jeanne
J
Hanks
Anthony
A
Omojasola
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States