Disparities in Nursing Homes Across the U.S.:
An analysis of the disparities between source of payment and
services received in U.S. nursing homes
Open Access
Author:
Outrakis, John Bernard
Area of Honors:
Health Policy and Administration
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dennis G Shea, Thesis Supervisor Dennis G Shea, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Rhonda Be Lue, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Restorative Services Pain Management Incontinence Care Behavioral Management Dementia Private Insurance Medicaid Medicare Nursing Homes healthcare health care payment sources source of payment
Abstract:
Nursing homes in the United States are seeing an influx in patients, due to the aging of the baby boom population. Medicare and Medicaid are in financial distress and private insurance continues to increase in cost. All three sources of payment play a role in financing nursing home services. The study focused on identifying whether or not the source of a patient’s payment influenced the reception receipt of certain nursing home services. Data from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey was utilized to examine the relation between insurance status and the receipt of hospice care, pain management, incontinence care, dementia care, behavioral management, and restorative services. Controlling for demographic characteristics, we found that the receipt of hospice services and behavioral management services were both influenced by the patient’s source of payment.
