Would universal general practitioner care impact Irish adolescents' utilisation?

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Healthcare Economics

Background:

• Healthcare utilization is influenced by health system characteristics.
• In Ireland, most citizens pay for General Practitioner (GP) services, unlike European counterparts.
• Current reforms propose universal GP care, starting with individuals under 18.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the impact of free GP care on GP utilization among 16/17 year olds.
• To analyze the effect of removing point-of-use fees for GP services.
• To inform the phased introduction of universal GP care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Growing Up in Ireland survey (n=4308).
• Employed propensity score matching to control for health care needs and other factors.
• Assessed GP utilization over a 12-month period.

Main Results:

• Having GP cover was associated with a 38% increase in the average number of annual GP consultations.
• For individuals without chronic conditions, GP cover led to a 42% increase in annual GP consultations.
• Findings suggest universal GP care would likely increase GP service utilization in this age group.

Conclusions:

• Extending free GP care is expected to increase service utilization among adolescents.
• Universal GP care has significant economic implications for healthcare budgets and workforce planning.
• Investment in adolescent healthcare via a universal system is necessary to meet increased demand and yield future benefits.