| This research project examined the health related quality-of-life of Medicaid patients in the State of Idaho. Patients with three specific disease states were chosen for the project, namely hypertension, congestive failure, and migraine. In assessing the quality-of-life of the patients, the severity of illness was taken into consideration. Other objectives included the assessment of quality-of-life of patients within a disease state and between different treatment options. The difference in cost-utility of patients between disease states and between treatments was also assessed.;Patients meeting the criteria for the study were randomly selected from the Idaho Medicaid database and sent a mail questionnaire. The questionnaire sent was a mail version of the SF-36 questionnaire developed by Ware et al. (1987). A response rate of about 20% was obtained. A multiple regression analysis showed that illness burden, resources used, patient adherence to treatment or compliance, treatment satisfaction, satisfaction with one's life, age and the presence of congestive heart failure as compared to migraine were factors affecting the physical health status of the respondents. Using a multiple regression analysis indicated that the presence of hypertension, the presence of congestive heart failure, when compared to migraine, satisfaction with one's life, and the status of living alone were factors affecting the mental health status of respondents.;Analysis reveled no difference in physical health status of patients on different hypertensive treatments. In case of congestive heart failure patients, the interaction of ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers was shown to be significant. Cost-utility of patients was affected by disease state and illness burden. The cost-utility of patients was shown to be different for different treatment options for both hypertensive and congestive heart failure patients.;This study provides a view of the quality-of-life of selected patients in the Idaho Medicaid system. It provides feedback to the payers of the Medicaid system as well as to health care providers and the patients themselves. It is a baseline for making comparisons with studies with patients in the general population as well as Medicaid patients in other states. This may very well provide the impetus for improvements and efficiency in the system, a sought after goal of the health care system in this country. |
