Objectives: This Seattle project measured sexual health services provided to 1112 Medicaid managed care enrollees aged 14 to 18 years.
Methods: Three health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that provide Medicaid services for a capitated rate agreed to participate. These included a non-profit staff-model HMO, a for-profit independent practice association (IPA), and a non-profit alliance of community clinics. Analyses used health maintenance organizations' administrative data, chart reviews, and Medicaid encounter data.
Results: Health maintenance organizations provided primary care to 54% and well care to 20% of Medicaid enrollees. Girls were more likely than boys to have their sexual history taken or to be given condom counseling. Only 27% of sexually active girls were tested for chlamydia, with significantly lower rates of testing among those who spoke English as a second language. The nonprofit staff-model plan outperformed the for-profit independent practice association on most measures.
Conclusions: Substantial room for improvement exists in sexual health services delivery to adolescent Medicaid managed care enrollees.