Are Primary Care Services a Substitute or Complement for Specialty and Inpatient Services?

Date
2005
Journal
Health Services Research
Description

Change in distance to primary care was a significant and substantial predictor of change in primary care visits. Analyses indicated that an increase in primary care service use was associated with increases in the use of all specialty outpatient services and inpatient services, as well as increases in inpatient and outpatient costs. Results provide evidence that health systems can implement strategies to encourage their members to use more primary care services without driving up physical health costs.

Center
WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
Authors
John Fortney, Diane Steffick, James Burgess Jr, Matt Maciejewski, Laura Petersen