Medical care
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Research suggests that racial/ethnic concordance (matching) between patients and physicians improves quality of care for minority patients by reducing discrimination in the clinical encounter. ⋯ Given that physician race is a more powerful predictor of preventive screening than patient-physician concordance, minority patients may receive some guideline-recommended care at lower rates in concordant pairs. Addressing physician education and training to ensure practice that is consistent with preventive care guidelines may be important. Forms of discrimination in the clinical encounter thought to be modified by concordance do not appear to drive disparities in these outcomes.
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Cost-related nonadherence (CRN) among Medicare beneficiaries declined after the implementation of the Part D program, but it is unknown whether CRN changes varied on the basis of beneficiaries' change in drug coverage. ⋯ Part D coverage reduced but did not eliminate CRN for newly insured beneficiaries. Unresolved CRN persisted for newly insured and continuously uninsured beneficiaries, particularly among disabled beneficiaries.
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Equitable access to health insurance coverage may improve outcomes of care for chronic health conditions and mitigate racial/ethnic health disparities. This study examines racial/ethnic disparities in the treatment and outcomes of care for TRICARE beneficiaries with congestive heart failure (CHF). ⋯ This study suggests that although there are some racial and ethnic disparities in the receipt of pharmacological therapy for CHF among TRICARE beneficiaries, these differences do not translate into disparities in the likelihood of a PAH. The findings support previous research suggesting that equal access to care may mitigate racial/ethnic health disparities.