Health Plans

High turnover rates among primary care providers in managed care organizations are associated with lower member satisfaction ratings and lower rates of preventive care, according to a study in the American Journal of Managed Care.

Researchers found that a 10% higher provider turnover rate was associated with 0.9% fewer members reporting high levels of overall satisfaction with medical services from their managed care provider.

In addition, higher provider turnover rates were associated with lower rates of preventive care, with well-child visits showing the greatest percentage decline with a 10% increase in physician turnover.

Researchers urged health plans to consider primary care turnover as a contributor to larger quality-of-care measures and to take steps to boost retention of primary care providers (Plomondon et al., American Journal of Managed Care, August 2007).