The role of primary care providers in testing for sexually transmitted infections in the MassHealth Medicaid program

PLoS One. 2023 Nov 30;18(11):e0295024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295024. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) under an accountable care model of health care delivery. Data sources were claims and encounter records from the Massachusetts Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (MassHealth) for enrollees aged 13 to 64 years in 2019. This cross-sectional study examines the one-year prevalence of STI testing and evaluates social determinants of health and other patient characteristics as predictors of such testing in both primary care and other settings. We identified visits with STI testing using procedure codes and primary care settings from provider code types. Among 740,417 members, 55% were female, 11% were homeless or unstably housed, and 15% had some level of disability. While the prevalence of testing in any setting was 20% (N = 151,428), only 57,215 members had testing performed in a primary care setting, resulting in an 8% prevalence of testing by primary care clinicians (PCCs). Members enrolled in a managed care organization (MCO) were significantly less likely to be tested by a primary care provider than those enrolled in accountable care organization (ACO) plans that have specific incentives for primary care practices to coordinate care. Enrollees in a Primary Care ACO had the highest rates of STI testing, both overall and by primary care providers. Massachusetts' ACO delivery systems may be able to help practices increase STI screening with explicit incentives for STI testing in primary care settings.

MeSH terms

  • Accountable Care Organizations*
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicaid
  • Primary Health Care
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / prevention & control
  • United States / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This publication was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $113,710 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.