There were significant variations in the cost, quality and utilization of health care services in Louisiana before hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to a report commissioned by Tulane University, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. The report was funded by a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and conducted by Health Dialog Analytics Solutions. For the report, researchers examined claims submitted from July 2004 to June 2005 from Blue Cross, Medicaid and Medicare -- the state's three largest payers.

The report also looked at data from the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division. Researchers found that patients' health status, type of insurance, race, ethnicity or gender did not fully explain the variations in care. The report also found that the uninsured used emergency departments for chronic disease treatment, indicating that they lack access to primary care.

Gery Barry, BCBS CEO and a board member of the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum, said the report could be used to direct initiatives that seek to improve the quality and efficiency of health care (Baton Rouge Advocate, 11/6).