Barriers to prenatal care among Medicaid managed care enrollees: patient and provider perceptions.

To identify what patients and providers perceive as barriers to prenatal care among women enrolled in a Medicaid managed care plan, focus group discussions of: 1) women, 13 to 45 years of age, enrolled in a Medicaid managed care plan and 2) providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants) that serve this population were conducted at a location in the community by professional facilitators. Forty-two enrolled women and 22 providers participated. Based on an interpretive analysis of comments regarding perceived barriers towards receiving prenatal care by patients and providers, we found some perceived barriers that were similar for both groups. Both groups of respondents thought that problems with transportation, knowledge of TennCare, and substance abuse were barriers to receiving prenatal care. Providers mentioned lack of enrollee's education, need for child care, and limited hours of operation; and patients mentioned treatment by office personnel, lack of rapport with health providers and lack of recognition of pregnancy as additional barriers. Understanding both patient and provider perspectives of the barriers to receiving care is the first step towards meeting the needs of the target population. Health plans that serve the historically underserved population must take a specialized approach that adapts to the population's distinct needs.