Purpose: To examine the effect of differences in type of dental plan (fee-for-service versus capitated) on the rating of the plans and the satisfaction of enrollees. Method: Four dental markets were selected based on the level of HMO penetration. Eight fortune 500 companies agreed to participate. Participants were randomly selected from eligibility lists and a 25 minute telephone interview was conducted which included questions on the rating and satisfaction with the plans in 1997. The sample size was 2,340. For the purposes of this analysis, two plan types are used fee-for-service(FFS), capitated (CAP). Results: Multinomial regression analysis was conducted with satisfaction with the plan and with the dentist as dependent variables and the response categories of satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied. The enrollees in CAP plans were more likely to be dissatisfied than either neutral or satisfied with the plan than those in the FFS (p<0.001). None of the market or demographic variables were significant. With regard to the dentist, those in the CAP plans were 9 times more dissatisfied than neutral than those in the FFS plans and in the dissatisfied to satisfied comparison, and 7 times more dissatisfied than satisfied. Those in New Jersey and North Carolina were likely to be more dissatisfied with their dentist relative to those in North Carolina. None of the demographic or company variables were significant.
Learning Objectives: The learner will be able to 1. Articulate the differences in the ratings by enrollees between FFS and capitated dental plans 2. Identify the variables that impact on the ratings of dental plans by plan enrollees 3. Identify the factors that impact on the rating of dentists by plan enrolees
Keywords: Health Care Managed Care,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.