Research on Healthcare Management Detailed by Researchers at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (“It’s been like a miracle”: Low-income Arkansans and access to health care services following Medicaid reform)

2020 DEC 31 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on healthcare management. According to news reporting originating from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “This article reports qualitative results from a mixed-methods evaluation of the Arkansas Health Care Independence Program.”

The news editors obtained a quote from the research from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: “Qualitative data was collected using telephone interviews with 24 low-income Arkansans newly enrolled in Medicaid or a Qualified Health Plan in 2014. We used methods developed for rapid qualitative assessment to explore a range of general barriers and facilitators to accessing health care services. Secondary analysis guided by the most significant change technique aided in the construction of case summaries that permitted insights into participants’ experiences of managing their health over time. Barriers to accessing health care services included treatment costs, beliefs and values related to health, limited health literacy, poor quality health care, provider stigma, and difficulties that made travel challenging. For 1 participant who was no longer eligible for Medicaid or a QHP, lacking health care coverage was also problematic. Facilitators included having health care coverage, life experiences that re-enforced the value of prevention, health literacy, and enhanced health care services.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Low-income Arkansans experiences accessing health care elucidate access as multi-dimensional, involving not only the availability of affordable services, but treatment effectiveness and patient experiences interacting with providers and clinic staff. We use these findings to formulate recommendations for programs and policies aimed at further increasing access to high-quality health care as a strategy for reducing health disparities.”

For more information on this research see: “It’s been like a miracle”: Low-income Arkansans and access to health care services following Medicaid reform. Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 2020,57. (Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing - https://journals.sagepub.com/home/inq). The publisher for Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing is SAGE Publishing.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958020981169.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Traci H. Abraham PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Additional authors for this research include Sacha A. McBain PhD, Anthony Goudie PhD, PhD Teresa Hudson PharmD, MPH Joseph W. Thompson MD.

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