Accounting for Apparent "Reverse" Racial Disparities in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Based Medical Care: Influence of Out-of-VA Care

Gurmankin, Andrea D; Polsky, Daniel; Volpp, Kevin G

Accounting for Apparent "Reverse" Racial Disparities in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Based Medical Care: Influence of Out-of-VA Care

Publication or External Link

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.94.12.2074

Date

2004

Authors

Gurmankin, Andrea D

Polsky, Daniel

Volpp, Kevin G

Citation

Gurmankin, Andrea D and Polsky, Daniel and Volpp, Kevin G (2004) Accounting for Apparent "Reverse" Racial Disparities in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Based Medical Care: Influence of Out-of-VA Care. American Journal of Public Health, 9 (12). pp. 2076-2078.

DRUM DOI

https://doi.org/10.13016/xfr8-uqll

Abstract

Conclusions regarding racial differences in care following a nelwy elevated prosate-specific antigen (PSA) test at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may differ depending on whether follow-up care outside the VA is considered. Consecutive Philadelphia, Pa, VA patients with newly elevated PSA tests (n=183) were interviewed 1 year after baseline. Among exclusive VA users, Blacks had higher rates of urology referrals and prostate biopsies compared with Whites. However, these racial differences were attenuated when care obtained outside the VA also was considered.