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Do consultation charges deter general practitioner use among older people?

in
Publisher: 
Elsevier
Author: 
Richard Layte a, Anne Nolan a, Hannah McGee b, Ann O’Hanlon
Date published: 
22 May, 2009
Region: 
Republic of Ireland
Publication type: 
research
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Does free GP care for older people increase user frequency?
 
Between July 2001-2009 those over 70 years of age have been entitled to a free medical card in Ireland regardless of income. This paper investigates if this economic incentive led to an increase in the use of GP care services by older people during this period. The research notes how GP services for older people are very important in reducing reliance on more expensive secondary care services and improving overall health status of older people in Ireland.
 
The results point to some limited evidence in an increase in the probability of older people looking for free GP care but there is no significant effect on the frequency of visits paid to GPs.
 
Nonfinancial barriers such as decreased mobility, poorer access to transport and information and lower income in retirement are suggested to influence patterns of free GP care utilisation among the older population.
 
Also, the fact that GPs were reimbursed for all those over 70 on a capitation basis created an incentive for GPs to reduce the number of return visits they recommended among this group.
 

 

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