Measuring Underuse of Necessary Care Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries Using Inpatient and Outpatient Claims

Abstract

Monitoring access to needed medical care has become increasingly important in today's rapidly changing medical marketplace. Traditionally, measurement efforts have focused on vulnerable (eg, poor, uninsured) populations, who have a higher risk of being sick and whose access to care is below average. Numerous studies have shown that these vulnerable populations underuse needed services. They have a lower likelihood of seeing a physician, higher emergency department use, a greater likelihood of delaying care, and lower use of preventive care services.^1-4 Not surprisingly, these populations also have poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates.^4-6