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Cited by 458Healthcare Policy and ManagementChronic Disease Management StrategiesPrimary Care and Health Outcomes

Differences in 4-Year Health Outcomes for Elderly and Poor, Chronically III Patients Treated in HMO and Fee-for-Service Systems: Results From the Medical Outcomes Study

Ware, John E.·1996·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.1996.03540130037027
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Abstract

Objective. —To compare physical and mental health outcomes of chronically ill adults, including elderly and poor subgroups, treated in health maintenance organization (HMO) and fee-for-service (FFS) systems. Study Design. —A 4-year observational study of 2235 patients (18 to 97 years of age) with hypertension, non—insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), recent acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and depressive disorder sampled from HMO and FFS systems in 1986 and followed up through 1990. Those aged 65 years and older covered under Medicare and low-income patients (200% of poverty) were analyzed separately. Setting and Participants. —Offices of physicians practicing family medicine, internal medicine, endocrinology, cardiology, and psychiatry, in HMO and FFS systems of care. Types of practices included both prepaid group (72% of patients) and independent practice association (28%) types of HMOs, large multispecialty groups, and solo or small, single-specialty practices in Boston, Mass, Chicago, III, and Los Angeles, Calif. Outcome Measures. —Differences between initial and 4-year follow-up scores of summary physical and mental health scales from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-ltem Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) for all patients and practice settings. Results. —On average, physical health declined and mental health remained stable during the 4-year follow-up period, with physical declines larger for the elderly than for the nonelderly (P<.001). In comparisons between HMO and FFS systems, physical and mental health outcomes did not differ for the average patient; however, they did differ for subgroups of the population differing in age and poverty status. For elderly patients (those aged 65 years and older) treated under Medicare, declines in physical health were more common in HMOs than in FFS plans (54% vs 28%;P<.001). In 1 site, mental health outcomes were better (P<.05) for elderly patients in HMOs relative to FFS but not in 2 other sites. For patients differing in poverty status, opposite patterns of physical health (P<.05) and for mental health (P<.001) outcomes were observed across systems; outcomes favored FFS over HMOs for the poverty group and favored HMOs over FFS for the nonpoverty group. Conclusions. —During the study period, elderly and poor chronically ill patients had worse physical health outcomes in HMOs than in FFS systems; mental health outcomes varied by study site and patient characteristics. Current health care plans should carefully monitor the health outcomes of these vulnerable subgroups.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.1996.03540130037027

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Authors
Ware, J. E.
Corresponding author
Ware, John E.
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
1996-10-02
Volume
276
Issue
13
Pages
1039
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.1996.03540130037027
OpenAlex
W7214213080
Cited by
0
References
0
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
JAMA (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Healthcare Policy and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
Keywords
health maintenance organizations, chronic disease, elderly patients, low-income patients, physical health outcomes, mental health outcomes, Medicare, prepaid group practice, independent practice associations, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, depressive disorders, SF-36, health care delivery systems, health disparities, general practice

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