Gerlach, Allison
(2019)
Characteristics Affecting Utilization of Dental Services in Medicaid-Enrolled Children.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
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Abstract
Understanding why patients do or do not use their insurance benefits, particularly for preventive care, can help to improve access to care in the future. This study reports significant influences on utilization of preventive dental services benefits in children, ages 0-18, enrolled in Medicaid in 2016 in five northeastern states. OBJECTIVE: of the study was to determine the effect specific patient demographic variables (age, race, gender, eligibility) had on the utilization of preventive dental services by children enrolled in Medicaid for 2016. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from the CMS Form 416 and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was performed. The significance of the association between each variable and utilization rate was tested using a chi-square test. The strength of the association within each variable was determined using the relative risk. RESULTS: showed a significant association between patient demographic variables (age, gender, race, and eligibility) and utilization (p = <0.001). The strength of association was most significant between males and females (RR = 1.034); between whites and blacks (RR = 0.737); between categorically and medically needy in NY (RR = 1.016) and NH (RR = 0.524); between 0-2 year olds and 6-9 year olds in PA (RR = 0.485), NY (RR = 0.485), NH (3.124), VT (RR = 4.053), and RI (RR = 2.88). The difference between eligibility and utilization in RI was not significant (p = 0.092). CONCLUSIONS: White patients and female patients are more likely to utilize Medicaid benefits for preventive dental services. Medically needy children are more likely to utilize Medicaid benefits for preventive dental services in NY. 0-2 year olds are more likely to utilize Medicaid benefits for preventive dental services in NY and PA, and 6-9 year olds are more likely to utilize Medicaid benefits for preventive dental services in NH, VT, and RI.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
10 June 2019 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
4 June 2019 |
| Approval Date: |
10 June 2019 |
| Submission Date: |
31 May 2019 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
39 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Dental Medicine > Dental Science |
| Degree: |
MDS - Master of Dental Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Utilization
Medicaid
Children
Dental |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Jun 2019 18:18 |
| Last Modified: |
10 Jun 2019 18:18 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/36839 |
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