National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist
National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist
National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist
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Timeliness<br />
Findings<br />
Getting Care for Illness or Injury As Soon As Wanted<br />
A patient’s primary care provider should be the first point of contact for most illnesses and injuries. A<br />
patient’s ability to receive timely treatment for illness and injury is a key element in a patient-centered health<br />
care system.<br />
Chapter 4<br />
Figure 4.1. Adults who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or condition in the last 12 months<br />
who sometimes or never got care as soon as wanted, by race and income, 2002-2008<br />
50<br />
45<br />
White<br />
Black<br />
Asian<br />
> 1 Race<br />
50<br />
45<br />
Poor<br />
Low Income<br />
Middle Income<br />
High Income<br />
40<br />
40<br />
35<br />
35<br />
Percent<br />
30<br />
25<br />
Percent<br />
30<br />
25<br />
20<br />
20<br />
15<br />
15<br />
10<br />
10<br />
5<br />
5<br />
0<br />
2002<br />
2003<br />
2004<br />
2005<br />
2006<br />
2007<br />
2008<br />
0<br />
2002<br />
2003<br />
2004<br />
2005<br />
2006<br />
2007<br />
2008<br />
Source: Agency for <strong><strong>Health</strong>care</strong> Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002-2008.<br />
Denominator: Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and over.<br />
Note: For this measure, lower rates are better. Data were insufficient for this analysis for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders,<br />
for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and for multiple race for 2003, 2007, and 2008.<br />
n From 2002 to 2008, the percentage of Whites who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or<br />
condition in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got care as soon as wanted was significantly<br />
lower than the percentage of Blacks in 6 of 7 years. The percentage for Whites was lower than for<br />
Asians in 5 of 7 years (Figure 4.1).<br />
n During the same period, the percentage who reported not getting care as soon as wanted was<br />
significantly lower for high-income people than for poor, low-income, and middle-income people in<br />
all years. Also, the percentage who reported not getting care as soon as wanted was significantly<br />
lower for people with any college education than for high school graduates in all years and people<br />
with less than a high school education in 5 of 7 years (data not shown).<br />
Also, in the NHQR:<br />
n From 2002 to 2008, the percentage of adults who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or<br />
condition in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got care as soon as wanted was significantly<br />
lower for adults age 65 and over than for adults ages 18-64.<br />
156 <strong>National</strong> <strong><strong>Health</strong>care</strong> <strong>Disparities</strong> <strong>Report</strong>, 2011