2003 Medicaid versus commercial beneficiary experience with care

CAHPS is a widely used survey measuring consumer experiences with health care. CAHPS ratings of children and adults in Medicaid, in terms of overall care and specific aspects of care tend to be related. In general, CAHPS ratings of personal doctor/registered nurse, specialist, health care, and health plan tend to be higher for both children and adult beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid health plans than for children and adult commercial beneficiaries. However, commercial plan enrollees, both children and adults, tend to have higher ratings for getting help and care immediately for non-routine care. Medicaid enrollees tend to experience slightly fewer delay problems with regular or routine care. However, according to their ratings, Medicaid plans enrollees whether children or adult, tend to experience more problems in seeing a specialist and in getting necessary care, tests and treatments.