Lara Z Jirmanus1,2, Lynsie Ranker3, Sharon Touw4, Rumel Mahmood5, Sarah L Kimball6, Amresh Hanchate7, Karen E Lasser6. 1. Department of Family Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, 1493 Cambridge St, 02139, Cambridge, MA, United States. ljirmanus@challiance.org. 2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. ljirmanus@challiance.org. 3. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States. 4. Institute for Community Health, Malden, MA, United States. 5. Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, United States. 6. Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. 7. Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown mixed findings regarding the impact of immigration policy changes on immigrants' utilization of primary care. METHODS: We used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare changes in missed primary care appointments over time across two groups: patients who received care in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole, and non-Hispanic, white patients who received care in English. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, race, insurance, hospital system, and presence of chronic conditions, immigration policy changes were associated with an absolute increase in the missed appointment prevalence of 0.74 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 0.34, 1.15) among Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian-Creole speakers. We estimated that missed appointments due to immigration policy changes resulted in lost revenue of over $185,000. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that immigration policy changes were associated with a significant increase in missed appointments among patients who receive medical care in languages other than English.
INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown mixed findings regarding the impact of immigration policy changes on immigrants' utilization of primary care. METHODS: We used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare changes in missed primary care appointments over time across two groups: patients who received care in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole, and non-Hispanic, white patients who received care in English. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, race, insurance, hospital system, and presence of chronic conditions, immigration policy changes were associated with an absolute increase in the missed appointment prevalence of 0.74 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 0.34, 1.15) among Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian-Creole speakers. We estimated that missed appointments due to immigration policy changes resulted in lost revenue of over $185,000. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that immigration policy changes were associated with a significant increase in missed appointments among patients who receive medical care in languages other than English.
Authors: Lilli Mann; Florence M Simán; Mario Downs; Christina J Sun; Brisa Urquieta de Hernandez; Manuel García; Jorge Alonzo; Emma Lawlor; Scott D Rhodes Journal: N C Med J Date: 2016 Jul-Aug