Use of health services by black children according to payment mechanism.

The use patterns of approximately 2,600 black children, categorized according to type of insurance (Medicaid, private health insurance or no insurance), were analyzed. All children were enrolled in an urban pediatric primary care program that attempted to increase access to health care by poor children. Medicaid recipients used health-care services more than their counterparts who had private or no insurance. All groups received significant levels of preventive care. The percentage of health care received in the emergency room did not vary significantly among the groups. These results suggest that special delivery systems can be effective in reaching poor children and eliminating usage differentials according to income.