Study Examines Physicians Treating Large Numbers of Minority Patients; Updated Primer Explains Private Health Coverage

• "Do Primary Care Physicians Treating Minority Patients Report Problems Delivering High-Quality Care?" Health Affairs: The Web exclusive study by James Reschovsky and Ann O'Malley, senior researchers at the Center for Studying Health System Change, found that primary care physicians treating a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic patients typically earn less, see more patients, provide more charity care, treat more Medicaid beneficiaries and receive lower private insurance payments than their counterparts who treat fewer such patients. This group of physicians also reported more problems providing high-quality care, according to the study. The study also examines how higher Medicaid payments might help physicians treating mostly minority patients provide high-quality care and reduce racial and ethnic disparities. The study was sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund (Health Affairs release, 4/22).
  
  
• "How Private Health Coverage Works: A Primer -- 2008 Update," Kaiser Family Foundation: The updated primer explains the role and operations of private health coverage in the U.S., discusses the fundamental aims of private coverage, and explains state and federal regulations that govern it. Issues explained in the primer include distinctions between insured arrangements and self-funded plans; different types of private health plan arrangements; risk pooling; medical underwriting; types of laws states have enacted to regulate health coverage; and the interaction of state regulations with federal laws (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/21).