Asian-Indian physicians' experience with managed care organizations

There is anecdotal evidence that ethnic minority physicians are underrepresented in managed care contracts. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to determine ethnic Asian-Indian physician-managed care organization experience and job satisfaction in the USA by age, gender, region and percent of patients in managed care organizations. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/VALUE: A random (nation-wide) mail survey was conducted of 254 physicians who were American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) members during the period 1998 to 2000. Managed care experience was categorized into physician satisfaction; service quality rating; service limitations; difficulties acquiring and maintaining managed care contracts; and financial impact.

Physicians in solo and group practice relied heavily on managed care enrolled patients. Limitations providing care to patients was a more serious problem than for those in staff-model health maintenance organization and hospital/clinic-based practices. Physician satisfaction was not significantly related to board certification, practice type, region and managed care participation. However, practice staff participating in managed care had the highest number of board-certified physicians.

There was a low response rate (37 percent) to data collection using questionnaires.

The paper underlines ethnic minority physicians' capability to get managed care contracts.

This is the first national study of Asian-Indian physicians and their managed care organization experience. Asian-Indian physicians are over-represented in the medical profession and hence the paper will interest those working and dealing with managed care organizations and their patients.