Effects Of Managed Care On The Health And Health-Care Of The Non-Elderly With Diabetes

EFFECTS OF MANAGED CARE ON THE HEALTHAND HEALTHCARE OF THE NONELDERLY WITH DIABETES byMEIHUA LUMay 2011 Advisor: Dr. Allen C. GoodmanMajor: EconomicsDegree: Doctor of Philosophy This dissertation attempts to examine the quality effect of managed care plans(as compared with traditional fee-for-service plans, or FFS) on the health outcomeand health care use of patients with diabetes. As the number of diabetics is growingrapidly with many of them are relying on managed care plans, knowing better theeffects of different plans on health status and health care utilization is of greatinterest and significance to consumers, employers, and policymakers, especially at atime that universal health care is under being implemented.Using up-to-date data from MEPS, a nationally representative survey, Icompared 484 HMO patients, 356 OMC patients, with 161 patients (who presentedwith diabetes) in terms of access to, satisfaction with, utilization of care (includingdiabetes care), and health status, to evaluate the quality of health care enrolleesreceive and their health outcome.