Thread by @MedicaidUpdate

Patterns of Health Care Access and Use in an Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Population. (J Racial Ethn Health Disparities)

Summary: The study examined data from a cross-sectional survey of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations in Los Angeles County, using purposive sampling to strategically identify a larger eligible pool.

The study found that AIANs who were enrolled in a tribe were more likely to access the Indian Health Service (IHS) compared to those who were not enrolled.

The strongest factors influencing IHS access and use were tribal enrollment, preference for culturally-specific health care, proximity of services to home or work, having Medicaid, and having less than a high school education.

Feedback from a community forum indicated that cost and trust were important considerations for most AIANs.

The study suggests a need to improve the continuity, stability, and image of AIANs’ usual sources of care, such as IHS and community clinics, to address the heterogeneity of health care access and use among this population.

The implications for Medicaid are that AIANs with Medicaid are more likely to access IHS and require access to culturally-specific health care.
Date of Publication: 2023 May 18
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37202652
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