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The influence of patient characteristics on ratings of managed behavioral health care

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Abstract

Despite current emphasis on consumer-based performance measures, little is known about factors that influence consumer ratings of behavioral health care. This study examines the influence of patient characteristics, health care use, and insurance coverage on patients' ratings of their managed behavioral health care in both commercial and public plans. Older and healthier patients rated their behavioral health care and health plan more highly than did other patients. Patients with less education and those whose insurance paid all costs of care gave consistently higher plan ratings. Women and frequent users enrolled in commercial plans gave more positive care ratings. After adjusting for enrollee characteristics and coverage, there were no differences between ratings of patients in commercial and public plans. These results are consistent with other research that illustrates the importance of adjusting health care ratings for patient characteristics when comparing plans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, 180 Longwood Avenue, 02115, Boston, MA

    Paul D. Cleary PhD (Professor) & James A. Shaul MHA (Project Director)

  2. CareOregon, USA

    Matthew J. Carlson PhD (Research Associate)

  3. Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, USA

    Matthew J. Carlson PhD (Research Associate)

  4. Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, EN Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, USA

    Susan V. Eisen PhD (Health Research Scientist)

Authors
  1. Paul D. Cleary PhD
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  2. Matthew J. Carlson PhD
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  3. James A. Shaul MHA
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  4. Susan V. Eisen PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul D. Cleary PhD.

Additional information

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Cleary, P.D., Carlson, M.J., Shaul, J.A. et al. The influence of patient characteristics on ratings of managed behavioral health care. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 29, 481–489 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287354

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