Not Having a Regular Doctor Affects Healthcare Quality for Older Adults

A study published in Medical Care found approximately 5 percent of older adults on Medicare lack a "personal physician" and score lower on measures of healthcare quality, reports EurekAlert . "Beneficiaries without a personal physician report worse care experiences, rating their overall quality of care substantially lower than those with a personal physician," say the researchers, who think that encouraging Medicare recipients to have a regular physician could improve continuity and quality of healthcare. The team analyzed data from more than 272,000 surveyed senior Medicare beneficiaries. Overall, 4.9 percent said they did not have a personal physician, which constitutes more than 2 million people. That rate was elevated for certain groups, including men, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with less education. Recipients lacking a personal doctor were more likely to be enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare without a prescription drug plan, and less likely to be enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Older adults without a regular doctor had poorer mental health, as well. "Our findings provide further evidence of the relatively poorer care experiences among those who do not have a personal physician," the researchers concluded. "Medicare would be well-served to better understand who does and does not have a personal physician and take actions to help connect beneficiaries to providers."