Stimulating the Use of Preventive Health Services: Pricing and Promotion. Executive Summary

摘要

The doctoral dissertation research assesses the influence of combinations of pricing and promotion strategies on the use of preventive medical services by nonelderly persons under different insurance and health service configurations. The effectiveness of the Medicaid program in stimulating the use of preventive services by low income population also is evaluated. Estimated use rates of preventive services are compared to medically recommended 'clinical standards.' Data are from the 1980 National Medical Utilization and Expenditure Survey and the 1976 Bureau of Community Health Services Household Survey. Multivariate analysis showed that combined pricing and promotion strategies stimulate use of preventive health care services by 16 to 130 percent, compared to use of these services under full prices in traditional fee-for-service delivery environments; the pricing strategy alone results in 70 to 90 percent higher use. Use by persons with full coverage for preventive services falls within the medically recommended guidelines.