Alan N West1, William B Weeks. 1. Veterans Rural Health Resource Center - Eastern Region, White River Junction, VT, USA. alan.west@va.gov
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients, non-VA-using veterans, and nonveterans, separated by urban/rural residence and age group, on their use of major categories of medical care and payment sources. DATA SOURCE: Expenditures for health care-using men in Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys from 1996 through 2004. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Controlling for demographics, health status, and insurance, we compared groups on population-weighted expenditures for inpatient, hospital-based outpatient, office-based, pharmacy, and other care, by major payers (self/family, private insurance, Medicare, other sources, and VA). RESULTS: VA users received most of their health care outside of the VA system, paid through private insurance or Medicare; self-payments were substantial. VA users under 65 reported worse health if they were rural residents but also lower expenditures overall and less care through private insurance. CONCLUSIONS: VA health care users get most of their medical care from non-VA providers. Working-age VA users have less insurance coverage and rely more on VA care if they live in rural areas.
OBJECTIVE: To compare Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients, non-VA-using veterans, and nonveterans, separated by urban/rural residence and age group, on their use of major categories of medical care and payment sources. DATA SOURCE: Expenditures for health care-using men in Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys from 1996 through 2004. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Controlling for demographics, health status, and insurance, we compared groups on population-weighted expenditures for inpatient, hospital-based outpatient, office-based, pharmacy, and other care, by major payers (self/family, private insurance, Medicare, other sources, and VA). RESULTS: VA users received most of their health care outside of the VA system, paid through private insurance or Medicare; self-payments were substantial. VA users under 65 reported worse health if they were rural residents but also lower expenditures overall and less care through private insurance. CONCLUSIONS: VA health care users get most of their medical care from non-VA providers. Working-age VA users have less insurance coverage and rely more on VA care if they live in rural areas.
Authors: William B Weeks; Lewis E Kazis; Yujing Shen; Zhongxiao Cong; Xinhua S Ren; Donald Miller; Austin Lee; Jonathan B Perlin Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Steffie Woolhandler; David U Himmelstein; Ronald Distajo; Karen E Lasser; Danny McCormick; David H Bor; Sidney M Wolfe Journal: Int J Health Serv Date: 2005 Impact factor: 1.663
Authors: Denise M Hynes; Kristin Koelling; Kevin Stroupe; Noreen Arnold; Katherine Mallin; Min-Woong Sohn; Frances M Weaver; Larry Manheim; Linda Kok Journal: Med Care Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Elena M Kouri; Mary Beth Landrum; Elizabeth B Lamont; Sam Bozeman; Barbara J McNeil; Nancy L Keating Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2011-09-23 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Wei Duan-Porter; Brian C Martinson; Nancy Greer; Brent C Taylor; Kristen Ullman; Lauren McKenzie; Christina Rosebush; Roderick MacDonald; Samuel Falde; Timothy J Wilt Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2018-07-20 Impact factor: 5.128