Comparison of Primary Care Experiences and Outpatient Health Service Utilization Among Black and Latino Homeless-Experienced Veterans: An Analysis of Patient-Centered Medical Homes

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OBJECTIVES: To examine whether, among persons with recent homeless experience, minoritized clients rate primary care differently from non-minoritized clients in Veterans Affairs (VA) mainstream and homeless tailored clinics, through the largest survey of homeless-experienced Black, White, and Latino Veterans to date. METHODS: Surveys were collected from HEVs in Homeless-tailored Patient-Aligned Care Teams (HPACTs) and mainstream Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs; n = 4894). We tested multivariable associations between race/ethnicity, clinic (HPACT vs mainstream-PACT), and their interaction, on care experience ratings and service utilization. RESULTS: There were no major differences in care ratings by race/ethnicity; medical and social vulnerability factors were associated with worse ratings. Black HEVs rated team Cooperation and Access/Coordination modestly better compared to White HEVs, while being Latino was nonsignificant. HPACTs were rated higher than mainstream-PACTs. Better Access/Coordination ratings were associated with more primary care (+1.12 additional visits per point increase) and mental health outpatient visits (+4.37 additional visits per point increase). CONCLUSIONS: In VA primary care, homeless-tailored clinics outperformed mainstream ones while racial/ethnic differences in ratings were minor. Optimizing perceived Access/Coordination of services may offer a path to increased service use.

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