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Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Health Care Access and Utilization Among Latinos
Journal article   Open access

Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Health Care Access and Utilization Among Latinos

Héctor E Alcalá, Jie Chen, Brent A Langellier, Dylan H Roby and Alexander N Ortega
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, v 30(1), pp 52-62
02 Jan 2017
PMID: 28062817
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2017.01.160208View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Adult European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Female Health Policy Health Services Accessibility - legislation & jurisprudence Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data Health Surveys Healthcare Disparities - legislation & jurisprudence Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data Healthcare Disparities - trends Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data Humans Insurance Coverage - legislation & jurisprudence Insurance Coverage - statistics & numerical data Male Middle Aged Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Professional Practice Gaps - statistics & numerical data Professional Practice Gaps - trends United States Young Adult
In the United States, Latinos have poorer access to and utilization of health care than non-Latino whites. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) may reduce these disparities. The ACA's impact among Latino subgroups is unknown. Using the 2011 to 2015 National Health Interview Survey, we examined access to and utilization of health care by Latino subgroups (18-64 years old). Subgroups were defined by Latino heritage group, citizenship status, and language use. Measures of access and utilization included insurance status, delaying medical care, forgoing medical care, visiting the emergency department, and visiting a physician. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of the outcomes. Time period and subgroup interaction terms were used to test the effects of the ACA. Mexicans and Central Americans had lower odds of being insured than did non-Latino whites. After ACA implementation, most reductions in disparities occurred between Puerto Ricans and non-Latino whites. Limited impact of the ACA was observed by language and citizenship status. The ACA has reduced gaps in access to and utilization of health care for some Latino population subgroups. Remaining disparities necessitate policy solutions that move beyond the ACA, particularly for groups excluded from coverage options, such as noncitizens.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#10 Reduced Inequalities
#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Primary Health Care
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