Early Assessment of Health Care Utilization Among a Workforce Population With Access to Primary Care Practices With Electronic Health Records

Abstract

This study assesses the health care costs and utilization among labor union members from 2008 to 2010 and compares whether members accessing primary care providers participating in a public health city program, the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP), had different health care usage or cost patterns. Using claims data, the number of hospital inpatient services utilized decreased by 16 per 100 members among those with chronic conditions accessing PCIP providers, whereas members seeing non-PCIP providers increased by 15 per 100 members. Access to providers participating in a population health initiative was associated with lower utilization of inpatient services and overall costs.