Analysis of Physician Referrals of Medicare Patients;Final rept. 30 Sep 96-29 Sep 99

摘要

This project was designed to (1) characterize patterns of treatment by physician specialty for non-institutionalized elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries$ (2) identify factors that influence the selection of usual and referring physicians, and (3) identify clinical outcomes associated with treatment by primary and specialty physicians. The study focused on Medicare patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure. Nationally representative cohorts of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and CHF were selected from MCBS files from 1991 through 1993. Regression analysis was used to establish correlates of having a usual physician, the specialty of that physician, the probability of receiving recommended preventive measures, and the probability of complications.