Coverage of primary care through employment-based health plans helps employees stay healthy and can reduce the risk of serious health problems that can lead to high health care costs and lost productivity. A recent EBRI report found that the share of the population with a routine source of care has been changing in recent years by race/ethnicity, as well as the provider type for the usual source of care. This Fast Fact reviews these trends in source of health care from 2013–2020.
a nurse practitioner as their usual source of care in 2013, while 12 percent did so in 2020. Two percent of Hispanic Americans said a nurse practitioner was their usual source of care in 2013, and 7 percent did so in 2020. Finally, the share of Asian Americans citing a nurse practitioner as their usual source of care increased from 1 percent to 2 percent. January 4, 2024, #490 Figure 2 Type of Health Care Provider, Among Those With a Usual Source of Care, 2013 –2020 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 A Look at Variations in Usual Source 100% of Health Care by Race/Ethnicity 90% 80% Through the provision of workplace health benefits, employers not only attract high-quality employees, but also 70% play a role in facilitating primary care use. Coverage of primary care through employment-based health plans 60% helps employees stay healthy and can reduce the risk of serious health problems that can lead to high health care cos50 ts a %nd lost productivity. A recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) report found that the share of the population with a usual source of care has been changing in recent years by race/ethnicity, as has the provider 40% type for the usual source of care. 30% 20% Across all racial groups, the share reporting a usual source of care fell over time. In 2013, 79 percent of White 10% Americans had a usual source of care, 72 percent of Asian Americans had a usual source of care, 71 percent of 0% Hispanic Americans had a usual source of care, and 75 percent of Black Americans had a usual source of care. By Doctor Nurse or Doctor Nurse or Doctor Nurse or Doctor Nurse or 2020, only 74 percent of White Americans, 68 percent of Asian Americans, 66 percent of Hispanic Americans, Physician Physician Physician Physician Assistant Assistant Assistant Assistant and 67 percent of Black Americans had a usual source of care. White Asian Hispanic Black Figure 1 Has a Usual Source of Care, by Race, 2013 –2020 About EBRI: The Employee Benefit Research Institute is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit research institute based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on health, savings, retirement, and economic security issues. EBRI does 90% not lobby and does not take policy positions. The work of EBRI is made possible by funding from its members and sponsors, which include a broad range of public and private organizations. For more information, visit 80% www.ebri.org. 70% 60% A Thank You to Our Funders: This study was conducted through the EBRI Center for Research on Health Benefits Innovation (EBRI CRHBI), with the funding support of the following organizations: Aon, Blue Cross 50% Blue Shield Association, ICUBA, JP Morgan Chase, Pfizer, and PhRMA. 40% 30% ### 20% 10% 0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 White 79% 79% 77% 76% 76% 73% 71% 74% Asian 72% 71% 74% 70% 65% 62% 69% 68% Hispanic 71% 70% 71% 69% 68% 64% 61% 66% Black 75% 73% 73% 70% 71% 65% 61% 67% There are also differences in the provider type of the usual source of care across racial groups. Among White, Black, and Hispanic Americans, care has been shifting from physicians (a combination of doctors in general practices and internal medicine practices) to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Black Americans had the largest increase in the share of those reporting a nurse practitioner or physician assistant as their usual source of care from 2013 –2020. While only 2 percent of Black Americans cited a nurse practitioner as their usual source of care in 2013, 7 percent did so in 2020. White and Hispanic Americans were also more likely to say that a nurse practitioner or physician assistant was their usual source of care over time. Four percent of White Americans cited EBRI on Twitter @EBRI or twitter.com/EBRI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/employee-benefit-research-institute EBRI on Twitter: @EBRI or twitter.com/EBRI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/employee-benefit-research-institute © 2024, Employee Benefit Research Institute, 901 D St. SW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20024, 202/659-0670 | ebri.org 2