Do managed care plans' tiered networks lead to inequities in care for minority patients?

Abstract

This study examined whether specialists designated as meeting efficiency thresholds in an insurance company's performance network were less likely than non-designated specialists to treat minority patients insured by that company. Claims data were used to identify patients treated by specialists. Claimants' race/ethnicity status was self-reported to the insurer at enrollment. In large part, minority patients appeared to be evenly distributed across the performance network, with the exception of Asian/Pacific Islanders, who appeared to be more likely to be treated by nondesignated physicians than by designated "good-performing" specialists.