 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Juliana K. Cyril, PhD, MPH, JoAnn Thierry, MS, MSW, and Blythe Ryerson, MPH. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop F-35, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-498-3014, jcyril@cdc.gov
Much emphasis has been placed on providing children with disabilities access to a system of pediatric health care that ensures continuous, comprehensive and coordinated care in order to meet the complex service needs of this population. As more of these children grow into young adulthood, this discussion has expanded to include the importance of successful transition from pediatric to adult-oriented care for young adults with disabilities and chronic conditions. Of particular concern is the role health insurance plays in influencing access to care and use of services by youth and young adults with disabilities. To better understand access to care in this population, we analyzed data on 1401 young adults with disabilities age 18-24 from the 1994-1995 Phase II National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement. Sociodemographic characteristics, insurance status, and access to and use of health services were examined. Preliminary results indicate that 73.7% of young adults with disabilities age 18-24 were covered by some form of public or private insurance: 44% were covered by private insurance only; 26.5% by public insurance only; and 3.3% by both private and public insurance. Twenty-six percent were not covered by any insurance program. Young adults with disabilities who were covered by insurance were more likely to identify a regular clinician (p<0.05), identify a usual general/family physician and a specialist (p<0.05), and identify a doctor as their overall medical care coordinator (p<0.05). The impact of insurance and access to care on the transition from child to adult-centered health care will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Access to Care, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.