title: Effects of Medicare Part D on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Hospital Utilization Among Seniors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate whether Medicare Part D reduced racial/ethnic disparities in hospital utilization among Medicare seniors, based on the Institute of Medicine's definition of a disparity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data on 43,098 adult respondents to the 2002-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we derive a difference-in-difference-in-differences estimator using a multivariate regression framework, and measure Part D's effects on disparities in any hospitalization, the number of nights hospitalized, and inpatient expenses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Part D narrowed racial/ethnic disparities in hospital utilization. For African Americans, it reduced the disparity in any hospitalization by 2.94% (p < .001) but had no effect on disparities in nights hospitalized or inpatient expenses. For Hispanics, Part D reduced disparities in nights hospitalized by 1.58 nights (p = .009) and in inpatient expenses by US$3,453 (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following Medicare Part D, disparities in hospital utilization narrowed significantly for both African American and Hispanic seniors, but in different ways for each population.
authors: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Mahmoudi@med.umich.edu.
authors: Elham
authors: E
authors: Mahmoudi
authors: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors: Gail A
authors: GA
authors: Jensen
authors: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors: Wassim
authors: W
authors: Tarraf
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054524:Medicare Part D; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Medicare Part D; hospital utilization; racial/ethnic disparities