Restrictive Medicaid Policies Linked With Delayed Medical Care for Patients

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have claimed that the delays in providing much-needed medical care to patients are linked with restrictive cost policies followed by Medicaid. States and counties with the most restrictive Medicaid eligibility criteria (where individuals must be far below the federal poverty level to qualify for Medicaid) have the highest rates of delayed care. This research appears in the March 28, 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"The causes of delaying care are complex. States with restrictive Medicaid policies need to review their strategies for improving access to care," said Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, a co-author of the research and the director of Health Equity Research and Intervention in the Center for Community Health and Health Equity at BWH.

Specifically, the research found:

• States with the most restrictive Medicaid eligibility requirements have higher rates of patients delaying needed medical care.
• Regions with the highest rates of delayed medical care are in the southeast, specifically Florida and Texas.
• Across the United States, Hispanics are at a higher risk for delaying needed medical care.
• Patients are less likely to delay needed medical care in regions with a greater concentration of primary care providers, such as New England.
  
  "Solving this problem will take more than just a Medicaid expansion," said Jennifer Haas, MD, MSPH, a co-author of the research and a primary care physician at BWH. "The states and counties that have been successful in reducing their rates of delayed care have been able to increase the number of primary care physicians, reduce eligibility barriers for Hispanic patients and generally increase access to health care."
  
  
  AIDS/HIV Treatment - Drugs - Proteas Inhibitors - NRTIs - NNRTIs
  Encyclopedia section of medindia explains in brief about the treatment for AIDS/HIV
  
  
  Source-Eurekalert
  Banned Drugs | Drugs Banned in India | List of Banned Drugs
  Several drugs are either banned or withdrawn after introduction in the market.

  Drugs Causing Low Blood Sodium Levels / Hyponatremia
  Many drugs can lower your blood sodium levels or hyponatremia. Low blood sodium symptoms are associated with salt level in blood and causes of hyponatremia are decrease in sodium and water content.