NERI Presented at the 27th International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management, August 14-17

NERI investigators considered whether the implementation of mandatory health insurance in Massachusetts in 2007 had an impact on use of drugs for chronic illness (antihypertensives, statins) among persons in the Boston Area Community Health Survey who had indications for use of these drugs. Comparing data collected at time points before and after health care reform, the researchers found that use of antihypertensives and statins increased in all race/ethnic and gender groups. The gains were especially large among those who were newly insured. Not all disparities were alleviated after health care reform, however, suggesting that access to care does not always explain race/ethnic disparities in drug use.

 

Poster Presentation

Does mandatory health insurance affect race/ethnic disparities in drug use? Results from Massachusetts. (View PDF)
Susan A. Hall, PhD

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Link C.L. & McKinlay J.B. Only Half the Problem is being addressed: Underinsurance is as Big a Problem as Uninsurance. Forthcoming, International Journal of Health Services, 2010.

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Himmelstein D.U. and Woolhandler S. Massachusetts’ approach to universal coverage: High hopes and faculty economic logic. International Journal of Health Services, Vol. 37(2):251-257, 2007.