Original Article

Access to Primary Care Physicians Differs by Health Insurance Coverage in Mississippi

Authors: Ronald E. Cossman, PhD, Jeralynn S. Cossman, PhD, Sarah Rogers, BA, David McBride, BA, Xiaojin Song, MS, La’Mont Sutton, BS, Megan Stubbs, BS

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study was to measure how access to primary health care in Mississippi varies by type of health insurance.

Methods: We called primary care physician (general practitioner, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatric) offices in Mississippi three times, citing different types of health insurance coverage in each call, and asked for a new patient appointment with a physician.

Results: Of all of the offices contacted, 7% of offices were not currently accepting new patients who had private insurance, 15% of offices were not currently accepting new Medicare patients, 38% were not currently accepting new Medicaid patients, and 9% to 21% of office calls were unresolved in one telephone call to the office.

Conclusions: Access to health insurance does not ensure access to primary health care; access varies by type of health insurance coverage.

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