Is there disparity in physician service use? A comparison of Hispanic and white Medicare beneficiaries

This article investigates general physician service use by a national sample of non-Hispanic white and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older. Using the health behavior model as the conceptual framework, Oaxaca decomposition multivariate analyses were conducted to examine predictors for contact with a physician and the number of physician's office visits. Racial and ethnic differences were found in the predictor variables of initial contact with the physician and volume of physician service use. Besides needs factors, poverty level and having Medicaid were also significant predictors. Oaxaca decomposition analysis indicated that Hispanic beneficiaries' being less likely to make the initial physician contact could not be explained only by racial and ethnic differences. Although findings point to the equitable and nondiscriminatory treatment of Hispanic beneficiaries already using physician services, there is variance in the entry point of contact with a general physician for this minority group. Implications for social work are discussed.