Keywords

healthcare quality, health disparities, socioeconomic status

 

Authors

  1. Wasson, John H. MD
  2. Benjamin, Regina MD, MBA

Abstract

In this report, we compare healthcare processes for patients with low (n = 7467) and adequate financial status (n = 43,701) after adjustment for age, gender, burden of illness, and health behaviors. Patients with low financial status were 10% to 30% less likely to report good service and collaborative care; they report that markers of disease management and prevention were 7% to 18% below the levels of patients with adequate income. From the patient perspective, these results confirm that inadequate financial status has a broad and adverse influence on health and healthcare. Technology for patient-centered, collaborative care alone will not remedy the problem of health disparity.