Receipt of diabetes preventive care among safety net patients associated with differing levels of insurance coverage

Abstract

Background: Patients receive care in safety net clinics regardless of insurance status; however, receipt of diabetes preventive care might vary among patients with differing levels of insurance continuity.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, using electronic health record data from adults with diabetes who were receiving care in 50 safety net clinics in Oregon in 2005 to 2007, we conducted adjusted logistic regressions to model the associations between amount of time with insurance and rates of receipt of lipid screening, influenza vaccination, nephropathy screening (urine microalbumin), and HbA1c (glycohemoglobin) screening.

Results: Of 3384 adults with diabetes, 711 were partially insured (covered 1% to 99% of the 3-year study period), 909 had no coverage, and 1764 were continuously insured. In adjusted models, persons with partial or no coverage during the 3-year study period were less likely to receive most preventive services compared with those with continuous coverage. We found no evidence of a dose-response relationship with increasing duration of coverage, nor of a threshold amount of partial coverage, associated with better receipt of care.

Conclusions: Safety net clinic patients need both access to primary care and continuous insurance. All patients with partial coverage, regardless of the extent of time with insurance, had lower odds of receiving preventive care.