The effect of differential eligibility for free GP services on GP utilisation in Ireland.
نویسندگان
چکیده
Internationally, there is extensive empirical evidence that a strong primary care-led health system is associated with improved health outcomes, increased quality of care, decreased health inequalities and lower overall health-care costs. Within primary care, factors influencing access to, and utilisation of, general practitioner (GP) services have been widely examined and this paper focuses on the role of user financial incentives. In particular, user charges for health care have been observed to deter health-care utilisation. Relative to other countries, the Irish health-care system is unusual in that the majority of the population are required to pay out-of-pocket for GP care. However, in 2005 the Irish government extended eligibility for free GP care to a further small subset of the population. Using micro-data from a nationally representative survey of the population in 2007, this paper analyses the impact of differential coverage of free GP services on GP utilisation in Ireland. Results from multivariate regression analysis indicate that GP utilisation is significantly more likely in the context of free GP care, controlling for a range of demographic, socio-economic and health factors. Interpretation of the results for the new category of coverage is complicated by possible pent-up demand and selection effects.
منابع مشابه
GP reimbursement and visiting behaviour in Ireland.
In Ireland, approximately 30% of the population receive free GP services (medical card patients) while the remainder (private patients) must pay for each visit. In 1989, the manner in which GPs were reimbursed by the State for their medical card patients was changed from fee-for-service to capitation while private patients continued to pay on a fee-for-service basis. Concerns about supplier-ind...
متن کاملPublic healthcare eligibility and the utilisation of GP services by older people in Ireland
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Do consultation charges deter general practitioner use among older people? A natural experiment.
In the Republic of Ireland, approximately 30% of the population ('medical card patients') are entitled to free general practice services. Eligibility is determined primarily on the basis of an income means test. The remaining 70% of the population ('private patients') must pay the full cost of all general practitioner (GP) consultations. From July 2001, all those over 70 years of age are also e...
متن کاملTitle : An Extension in Eligibility for Free
In the Republic of Ireland, approximately 30 per cent of the population (‘medical card patients’) are entitled to free GP services. Eligibility is determined primarily on the basis of an income means test. The remaining 70 per cent of the population (‘private patients’) must pay the full cost of GP consultations. In July 2001, eligibility for a medical card was extended to all those over 70 yea...
متن کاملInequalities in utilisation of general practitioner and specialist services in 9 European countries
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to describe the magnitude of educational inequalities in utilisation of general practitioner (GP) and specialist services in 9 European countries. In addition to West European countries, we have included 3 Eastern European countries: Hungary, Estonia and Latvia. To cover the gap in knowledge we pay a special attention to the magnitude of inequalities among pa...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Social science & medicine
دوره 74 10 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2012