| OCR Text |
Show respondents were compared according to their responses to the satisfaction questions, adjusted for the socio-demographic and health status variables. The results show a significant difference between proxy and non-proxy respondents in the composite satisfaction rating based on actual encounter with a health care provider, after age-sex adjustment. No significant differences were found for the other domain-specific satisfaction. Sample Disposition Rates Contact rates - number of enrollees located per 100 phone numbers attempted - ranged from 65.6 to 81.7 across the strata. The overall contact rate was 72%. Response rates - the number of enrollees who completed the interview per 100 enrollees determined to be eligible for the survey - ranged between 64.1 and 83.2 or 72% overall. Among Medicaid populations, the contact rate is usually low due to the mobility of the population and the low rate of household phones (many Medicaid enrollees give a neighbor's, relative's or local establishment's phone number for use in case of emergency). While the cooperation rate is very high among this group (rate ranged between 4.4 to 6.9 as opposed to non-Medicaid range of 14.1 to 17.7), the completion rate is lower, since if a respondent cannot complete the interview right then, there is again a low rate of re-contact. Findings • On the average, Medicaid beneficiaries surveyed were eight years younger than the commercial enrollees. They are more likely to be female and not currently married or in a consensual union. They are more than four times more likely to have not finished high school and four times less likely to have a college degree. While two-thirds of the commercial enrollees reported annual family incomes above $35,000, the same proportion of the Medicaid enrollees have family incomes less than $15,000. Non-whites and individuals of Hispanic origin comprise a greater proportion of the Medicaid population - roughly three times higher than the commercial population. • Medicaid beneficiaries interviewed for the survey have been enrolled for a shorter time in the HMO than their commercial counterparts. This is partly because the growth in Medicaid managed care is a relatively recent occurrence, and partly due to the high disenrollment rates among this population due largely to loss of eligibility. • Despite the fact that Medicaid beneficiaries are a vulnerable and under served population, they reported greater overall satisfaction with the health plan and with many aspects of the plan or care received even after adjusting for socio-demographic, experience, and health status. Medicaid clients reported relatively lower satisfaction than commercial enrollees with thoroughness of treatment, friendliness and courtesy, and coverage for preventive care and routine office visits. • On the average, Medicaid enrollees visited a health care provider or were hospitalized more frequently during the past twelve months than commercial enrollees. • In rating their general health status, Medicaid enrollees were about 25% less likely to respond "very good" or "excellent" and four times more likely to respond "fair" or "poor" compared to the commercial enrollees. • Physical and mental health condition limit the physical activities (i.e., moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf) of 35% of Medicaid enrollees, compared to only 6% for the commercial enrollees. • Four out of ten Medicaid enrollees, compared to one out of ten commercial enrollees, reported that their physical and mental health problems have interfered with their social activities. • For all but one of the chronic conditions surveyed, Medicaid enrollees reported significantly higher incidence than commercial enrollees. The most substantial differences between the two groups were for chronic allergies or sinus troubles, sciatica or back problems, depression, and ulcers. The only condition reported by a greater proportion of commercial than Medicaid enrollees is seasonal allergies. 18 Utah's 1996 Survey of Enrollees |
