Report card lists reasons consumers change docs

Beneficiaries of managed care plans are more likely to switch doctors, a new study concludes.

A 1997 Satisfaction Report Card issued yearly by Physician Referral & Health Information Update in Lincoln, NE, indicates 85.1% of the 165,000 families contacted had remained with the same physician during the 12 months prior to the survey. The 1996 report showed 80% did not change their doctors. A 17.7% of families with an HMO/PO coverage changed doctors, 14.5% of families under PPO plan did likewise, while those in a fee-for- service situation reported only a 10.7% change, and Medicare a 10.0% change.

The report addressed the consumers' primary reason for changing physicians:

· 46.5% - reason not listed;

· 20.0% - doctor not on consumer's insurance plan;

· 17.0% - dissatisfied with medical care;

· 9.0% - dissatisfied with access to doctor;

· 6.7% -inconvenient doctor office location.

Report findings varied according to market area. For instance, San Antonio survey participants reporting a doctor change was 25.4%, while the national average of change was 14.9%.