Investigators led by Nikki Win, PhD, medical manager/team lead, OMNI Scientific Strategy and Collaborations, US Medical Affairs, Genentech/Roche, found that patients with PD were referred to a specialist most often, followed by those with MS and those with AD.
They examined the proportion, timing, and demographic factors associated with referrals from primary care clinicians or other healthcare providers to specialists including neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and geriatric medicine specialists. Using zip code heatmaps, researchers found that the proportion of referrals for all neurologic disorders was higher in the Midwest and Northeast, whereas patients in the South and West were less likely to receive a referral.
Insurance status also affected referrals. People with MS and PD who had commercial insurance were referred more often than were those with Medicare Advantage, said Win.