UHC Provider Directories

Expanding Choice, Supporting Culture, Inclusion & Diversity

Provider Operations December 2020

Mike Kane, VP Office of Issue and Change Management
© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Opportunity
Consumers would like to establish relationships with
physicians who they are comfortable with - physicians of
similar backgrounds, life experience, etc.
• One demographic factor that facilitates comfort is race,
and currently, this is not available in our physician
directories.
• Clinical evidence shows that consumers benefit from
having physicians of same race for diagnosis and
treatment of frequently occurring medical conditions.

© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

 Clinical Benefits for Consumers
and Physician Relationships Based
on Race

Examples of clinical benefits for same race physicians:

• Same race physicians often possess deeper knowledge of
social determinants affecting their patients
• Asian physicians often understand the difficulties in diagnosing
diabetes as the threshold is different for Asian patients
• African American physicians often understand African
American patients’ predisposition for colon cancer and
pregnancy issues
Removal of language and cultural barriers improves
communication, leads to increased access to care and
preventative health measures.

© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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 Proposal

Collect Store Publish

Collect race Load collected Enhance
data from data into physician
physicians on directory directories to
a voluntary systems display race on
basis for new physician
and existing demographic
physicians screen

© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Defining the Terms
“Race”
Federal:
The racial categories included in the census questionnaire
generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this
country and not an attempt to define race biologically,
anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized that
the categories of the race item include racial and national origin
or sociocultural groups. The U.S. Office of Management and
Budget requires five minimum categories: White, Black or
African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
“Ethnicity”
Federal:
Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct
identities, with Hispanic or Latino origin asked as a separate
question. Thus, in addition to their race or races, all
respondents are categorized by membership in one of two
ethnic categories, which are "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not
Hispanic or Latino". However, the practice of separating "race"
and "ethnicity" as different categories has been criticized both
by the American Anthropological Association and members of
US Commission on Civil Rights.
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VOICE OF THE CONSUMER & PHYSICIAN
BY THE NUMBERS

68% 46% 51% 67%

% of physicians Consumers Physicians think Consumers think
surveyed willing are likely to more demo data more demo data
to share race* use race in benefits patients* benefits patients*
selection*

Increased Consumer
Satisfaction and Care
Outcomes

© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. * Moderately to Very Likely, According to a 2020 UHC Directory Survey 6
 Physicians are most likely to share their gender on an insurer’s website. Nearly 70%
would be at least moderately likely to share their race.
Most would not be willing to share their marital status, sexual orientation or religion.

Physician Likelihood to share each demo

Among Total, n=200

Gender 5% 6% 22% 34% 34%

Photograph 10% 16% 32% 22% 21% Other demographic information

Willing to share NOT willing to share
Race 16% 17% 25% 25% 18% ▪ Languages spoken ▪ Home address
▪ Areas of special expertise ▪ Cell phone number
▪ Size of family ▪ Personal email address
Age 16% 17% 32% 27% 10%
▪ Hometown ▪ Income
▪ Values ▪ Height and weight
Marital Status 48% 16% 18% 11% 9% ▪ Telemedicine access ▪ Political affiliations
▪ Treatment philosophy

Hobbies 31% 20% 23% 19% 8%

Sexual Orientation 69% 9% 10% 7% 6%

Religion 63% 13% 14% 7% 5%

Not at all Slightly Likely Moderately Likely Very Likely Extremely Likely

Physicians Q10: How likely would you be to share each of the following types of information with an insurer to be added to a directory that patients can search to find a health care professional? (Scale: Not at all, Slightly, Moderately, Very, Extremely) Personal
Demographic Information shown: Age, Gender, Race, Marital status, Photograph of yourself, Hobbies, Sexual orientation, Religion. Q11: This is the personal demographic information we just addressed: age, gender, race, marital status, photograph of yourself,
hobbies,
© 2020 sexual orientation,
United and religion.
HealthCare Is there
Services, Inc.any
All personal demographic information not captured that you would be willing to share and you are not already sharing? Q12: This is the personal demographic information we just addressed: age, gender, race,
rights reserved. 7
marital status, photograph of yourself, hobbies, sexual orientation, and religion. Is there any personal demographic information not captured that you would not be willing to share?
 Approximately half of consumers are very or extremely likely to take
any demographic information into consideration.
Consumers are more likely to take gender into account than any other demographic trait.

Likelihood of using each demo when selecting a physician

Among Total, n=600

Gender 21% 15% 25% 23% 17%

Age 18% 18% 35% 17% 12% Likelihood to reference race, by race
T2B

Photograph 28% 20% 25% 16% 11%

31% 29%
Race 40% 13% 23% 12% 11% 22%
15%
Marital 54% 12% 14% 10% 10%

Sexual Orientation 53% 11% 16% 10% 9%

White African American Hispanic Asian

Religion 53% 13% 18% 7% 9%

Hobbies 52% 16% 17% 9% 6%

Not at all likley Slightly likely Moderately likely Very likely Extremely likely

© 2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. 8

Consumers Q3: How likely would you be to reference each of the following types of information when selecting a doctor or physician?
When asked specifically about race, a number of consumers and physicians have
serious concerns about the implications of providing and using that information.
However, some physicians believe it doesn’t make a difference as patients will find
out eventually.

Physician Consumer

“ I would refuse. – White, Physician

“ Race should have nothing to do with it. His or her medical degree
should be most important – Exchange, White

“
This is an invasion of privacy and has no place in a

“
professional setting. – White, Physician
Someone may not go with a particular Dr because of their race,
and I think it has no merit on their ability to perform medicine.

“
Race should have no impact on physician selection. I – Employer, White
would feel uncomfortable with providing my race to

“
ensure. – African American, Physician
I feel like its a form of discrimination – Medicaid, African American

“ I don’t like it because my race has nothing to do with my

abilities. – White, Physician

“ It would only benefit those who have a preference when choosing

a doctor. – Medicare, African American

“
Should be no problem. Patient will know this when they meet
me so better they know before first appt and decide before
hand rather than after first visit. – Asian, Physician

Physicians Q18: How would you feel about providing your race to an insurer to be added to a directory that patients can search to find a health care professional?
Consumers Q9:How would you feel about your health insurance company providing the race of physicians or doctors on their website?
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Questions and feedback?

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