Public health reports
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Public health reports · Jul 2007
Health services for HIV/AIDS, HCV, and sexually transmitted infections in substance abuse treatment programs.
The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network conducted this study to determine the availability of and factors associated with infection-related health services in substance abuse treatment settings. In a cross-sectional descriptive design, state policies, reimbursement for providers, state level of priority, and treatment program characteristics were studied via written surveys of administrators of substance abuse treatment programs and of state health and substance abuse departments. ⋯ While the availability of infection-related health services is associated with medical staffing patterns, addiction pharmacotherapy services, and state priorities, reimbursement was the most significant determining factor. These findings suggest that greater funding of these health services in substance abuse treatment settings, facilitated by supportive state policies, represents an effective response to the excess morbidity and mortality of these substance use-related infections.
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Public health reports · Jul 2007
Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program patients and infectious diseases treated in emergency departments: U.S., 2003.
Emergency departments (EDs) are a critical source of medical care in the U.S. Information is sparse concerning infectious disease visits among Medicaid entitlement enrollees nationwide. The objective of this study was to describe infectious diseases in terms of Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. ⋯ Medicaid enrollee-specific ED visit rates for infectious diseases were higher by age group, gender, race, and region, compared with national rates. Because approximately half of visits relate to URTIs for a Medicaid payment group, URTIs should form the basis for development of appropriate control strategies.