Health Care Access Patterns in Relation to Ethnic/Racial and Health Insurance Status at an Osteopathic Hospital for 1998 through 2001

Mego, III, Charles B.W., Health Care Access Patterns in Relation to Ethnic/Racial and Health Insurance Status at an Osteopathic Hospital for 998 through 2001. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), December 2003, 106 p.p., 25 tables, 5 illustrations, references, 44 titles. The patient population of the Osteopathic Health System of Texas (OHST), an academic health center with a 256-bed teaching hospital, was analyzed for health care access as measured by health services utilization in 1998 through 2001. This study explored the question of whether there was less health care access among minorities than among the White non-Hispanic majority within the patient population at OHST. The Tarrant County population was compared to OHST’s population demographics. This assessment determined which Ethnic/Racial groups had the highest medical services utilization and their payment methods. Patient data obtained from the OHST’s Meditech database was analyzed using Epi-Info. White non-Hispanics made up over fifty percent of the Emergency Room (ER), Inpatient and Outpatient service utilization in 1998 through 2001. The Outpatient component made up just over fifty percent of the OHST’s patient. African-Americans were over represented in the ER, Inpatient, and Outpatient service components relative to the Tarrant County demographics for 1998 through 2001. The Hispanic ER Managed Care category increased 7% and confirmed a growth rate of 29% more ER Managed Care in 2001, as compared to 1998 (URR=1.29, [1.24-`.35], x2 = 142.49, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic ER Medicaid category decreased 4.1% and indicated a reduced growth rate of 17% less ER Medicaid in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR = 0.83, [0.79-0/87], x2 = 57.69, p,.01). The Hispanic Inpatient Managed Care category increased 13.2% and revealed a positive growth rate with 52% more Inpatient Managed Care in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR=1.52, [1.44-1.61]. x2 = 224.92, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic Inpatient Medicaid category decreased 14.4% and showed a reduced growth rate of 38% less Inpatient Medicaid in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR=0.62, [0.59-0.66], x2=274.58, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic and the Other groups relied heavily upon ER Self Pay, with a general decrease in Medicaid coverage and an increase in Managed Care. The Hispanic and Other groups have medical needs that are being neglected at OHST, and may lead to serious health problems that could be more costly if still treatable.