Can Indian Health Service Referrals for Nonemergent Care Be Allocated Equitably

Bibliographic Data

ID15744842
AuthorsHannah Wenger (Massachusetts General Hospital, corresponding author), Jo Henderson-Frost (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Year2021
Volume23
Issue3
PagesE215-222
Publication date2021-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe AMA Journal of Ethic (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2376-6980 • E-ISSN: 2376-6980
PublisherAmerican Medical Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1001/amajethics.2021.215
PMID33908342
OpenAlexW3134965872
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited1

The Indian Health Service (IHS) administers health care services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the United States. The agency funds referral care services through the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) Program, which prioritizes its budget to pay for emergent care. This commentary responds to a case about a physician's disappointment that a referral for nonemergent care is deferred for payment by the PRC Program. Jonsen et al's 4-quadrant approach (a microethical case analysis model) is applied to suggest that deferring referrals is just only when the PRC Program operates fairly. This model, however, might inadequately account for structural inequities underlying referral care rationing by the IHS, a federal entity that is legally and ethically obligated to care comprehensively for AI/AN patients

Agency (philosophy · Business · Economic growth · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Health services · Population · Referral · Service (business · Healthcare Policy and Management · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Marketing

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