Evidences supporting the inclusion of immigrants in the universal healthcare coverage.

In 2012, the Spanish government enforced a healthcare exclusion policy against undocumented immigrants. The newly elected government has recently derogated this policy. To analyze how this decree could have affected population health, we looked at primary health patients who would have been excluded and compared with a matched sample of non-excluded patients. Potentially excluded patients had decreased odds of: depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidaemia, heart failure and hypertension while diabetes mellitus rates were similar to non-excluded. Infectious diseases were more frequent in potentially excluded population (HIV, tuberculosis and syphilis). The exclusion of patients impedes the control of infectious diseases at a community level.

Población potencialmente excluida de cobertura sanitaria con el Real Decreto 16/2012 y sus repercusiones sanitarias: la experiencia desde la Cataluña Central / Potentially excluded population from health coverage and health impact since Royal Decree 16/2012: The Central Catalonia experience

OBJETIVO: Conocer la proporción de población potencialmente excluida de cobertura sanitaria a partir del Real Decreto-Ley 16/2012. Describir el uso de servicios sanitarios, la distribución de patología crónica e infecciosa y el gasto farmacéutico en 2012 de las personas excluidas respecto a las que mantendrían su cobertura. Diseño y emplazamiento: Estudio observacional analítico transversal de base poblacional en atención primaria. Gerencia Territorial de la Cataluña Central del Institut Català de la Salut. Participantes y MEDICIONES PRINCIPALES: Se seleccionaron las personas potencialmente excluidas a partir de la aplicación del Real Decreto-Ley 16/2012 y se compararon con las personas que mantendrían su cobertura sanitaria apareadas de forma aleatoria por edad, sexo y servicio de atención primaria. La información obtenida incluyó el uso de servicios sanitarios, la distribución de patologías crónicas e infecciosas y el gasto farmacéutico durante el año 2012. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 1.699 personas, el 0,53% del total de la población (51,4% hombres), con una mediana de edad de 34 años (rango intercuartílico, 28-43) potencialmente excluidas de cobertura sanitaria. El uso de servicios sanitarios, la morbilidad crónica registrada y el gasto farmacéutico durante el año 2012 de los excluidos fueron inferiores a los de los no excluidos (p < 0,001). En cambio, la morbilidad infecciosa fue superior en los excluidos (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados del estudio llevan a pensar que esta medida legislativa no parece justificada por razones médicas ni económicas. Además, podría provocar problemas de salud pública y contribuir al riesgo de fractura social

OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of population potentially excluded from healthcare coverage since the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012. To describe the use of health services, the distribution of chronic and infectious diseases, and the pharmaceutical costs in 2012 of the persons potentially excluded compared to the those who maintain their coverage. Design and SETTING: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was designed and conducted on a Primary Care based population in the Central Catalonia Management Area of the Institut Català de la Salut Participants and MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Individuals potentially excluded since the application of the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012 were selected and compared with individuals who maintained their healthcare coverage, randomly matched by sex, age and Primary Care service. The information obtained included the use of health services, the distribution of chronic and infectious diseases, and the pharmaceutical costs during the year 2012. RESULTS: A total of 1,699 individuals were identified as potentially excluded from healthcare coverage, 0.53% of the total of population (51.4% men), with a median of age of 34 years (interquartile range, 28-43). The use of healthcare services, the chronic morbidity recorded, and the pharmaceutical costs during the year 2012 of the excluded individuals was lower than those of the non-excluded ones (P < .001). On the other hand, the infectious morbidity was higher in the excluded individuals (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggests that this legislative measure does not seem to be justified for medical or economic reasons. It could also cause public health problems and contribute to the risk of social fracture

[Potentially excluded population from health coverage and health impact since Royal Decree 16/2012: The Central Catalonia experience]. / Población potencialmente excluida de cobertura sanitaria con el Real Decreto 16/2012 y sus repercusiones sanitarias: la experiencia desde la Cataluña Central.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of population potentially excluded from healthcare coverage since the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012. To describe the use of health services, the distribution of chronic and infectious diseases, and the pharmaceutical costs in 2012 of the persons potentially excluded compared to the those who maintain their coverage. DESIGN AND SETTING: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was designed and conducted on a Primary Care based population in the Central Catalonia Management Area of the Institut Català de la Salut PARTICIPANTS AND MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Individuals potentially excluded since the application of the Royal Decree-Law 16/2012 were selected and compared with individuals who maintained their healthcare coverage, randomly matched by sex, age and Primary Care service. The information obtained included the use of health services, the distribution of chronic and infectious diseases, and the pharmaceutical costs during the year 2012. RESULTS: A total of 1,699 individuals were identified as potentially excluded from healthcare coverage, 0.53% of the total of population (51.4% men), with a median of age of 34years (interquartile range, 28-43). The use of healthcare services, the chronic morbidity recorded, and the pharmaceutical costs during the year 2012 of the excluded individuals was lower than those of the non-excluded ones (P<.001). On the other hand, the infectious morbidity was higher in the excluded individuals (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggests that this legislative measure does not seem to be justified for medical or economic reasons. It could also cause public health problems and contribute to the risk of social fracture.