AHCPR Examining Patient Referral Patterns

Press Release Date: December 30, 1996

The Federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) today announced the funding of 13 new research projects: eight projects to determine how the referral of primary care patients to medical specialists and other specialized services affects the quality and cost of health care, and five projects to improve primary care services overall.

More than half of all Americans are now covered by managed care plans, which often require the use of a primary care physician or gatekeeper to manage the referral of patients from primary to specialty care. To strengthen the scientific base underpinning the referral policies of health plans, AHCPR issued a call in early 1996 for research applications on the referral of patients to specialists.

The following eight studies, with a total estimated funding of $4.79 million, were chosen from among the applicants. They are:

AHCPR also announced today the funding of five additional studies, with a total estimated funding of $3.54 million, to improve primary care. They are:

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, and enhance access to essential services. AHCPR's broad programs of research and technology assessment bring practical, science-based information to medical practitioners, and to consumers and other health care purchasers.

For additional information, contact AHCPR Public Affairs: Howard Holland, (301) 427-1857; Salina Prasad, (301) 427-1864.


Internet Citation:

AHCPR Examining Patient Referral Patterns. Press Release, December 30, 1996. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/ptrefs.htm


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