OBJECTIVE: This study documents the influence of having an assigned Medicaid primary care physician (PCP) on the utilization of otitis media-related services. DESIGN/ METHODS: This is a retrospective study using the 1991 Colorado Medicaid administrative database that followed 28 844 children <13 years who had at least 1 visit for otitis media. RESULTS: Children continuously enrolled in Medicaid throughout the entire year were >4 times (odds ratio: 4.2 and 4.89, respectively) as likely to always or sometimes have a PCP compared with children who were discontinuously enrolled. The likelihood of ever using the emergency department for an otitis media-related visit was increased by 26% and 50%, respectively, when a child sometimes or never had a PCP compared with always having a PCP. The likelihood of ever filling an antibiotic for otitis media was reduced by 23% and 34%, respectively, when a child sometimes or never had a PCP compared with always having a PCP. The likelihood of ever having otitis media-related surgery was not affected by PCP status, but young children, 13 to 18 months of age, had higher referral rates when they had an assigned PCP. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that having an assigned Medicaid PCP influences the utilization patterns of some otitis media-related medical services.
OBJECTIVE: This study documents the influence of having an assigned Medicaid primary care physician (PCP) on the utilization of otitis media-related services. DESIGN/ METHODS: This is a retrospective study using the 1991 Colorado Medicaid administrative database that followed 28 844 children <13 years who had at least 1 visit for otitis media. RESULTS:Children continuously enrolled in Medicaid throughout the entire year were >4 times (odds ratio: 4.2 and 4.89, respectively) as likely to always or sometimes have a PCP compared with children who were discontinuously enrolled. The likelihood of ever using the emergency department for an otitis media-related visit was increased by 26% and 50%, respectively, when a child sometimes or never had a PCP compared with always having a PCP. The likelihood of ever filling an antibiotic for otitis media was reduced by 23% and 34%, respectively, when a child sometimes or never had a PCP compared with always having a PCP. The likelihood of ever having otitis media-related surgery was not affected by PCP status, but young children, 13 to 18 months of age, had higher referral rates when they had an assigned PCP. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that having an assigned Medicaid PCP influences the utilization patterns of some otitis media-related medical services.