The effect of independent practice association plans on use of pediatric ambulatory medical care in one group practice

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Abstract
We compared the use of pediatric ambulatory medical care of 640 children who switched from a traditional Blue Cross plan to more comprehensive independent practice association plans with that of matched patients who remained with Blue Cross in one large, suburban pediatric practice in Rochester, NY. A quasiexperimental, retrospective cohort design was used. Use of pediatric ambulatory medical care by patients in the independent practice association plan and control patients was determined by medical chart review for 1 year before and 1 year after each patient's switch. During the baseline year, patients who would join the independent practice association plan already had 19% more acute-illness visits than control patients. During the second year, patients in the independent practice association plan averaged 42% more acute-illness visits, 22% more well child—care visits, 93% more chronic-illness visits, 27% more after-hours visits, 53% more weekend visits, 185% more laboratory studies, and 70% more referrals. The shift toward independent practice association plans in this open-market setting increased use of ambulatory medical care for pediatric patients. (JAMA. 1990;263:2198-2203)

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