Exploring Ethnic Differences in Post-Discharge Patterns of Surgical Care for Older Adults Admitted with Diverticulitis.

We have identified ongoing inequities in the consumption of medical resources, with White patients being more likely to undergo elective colectomy and percutaneous drainage. Differences in care are not fully alleviated by equal access to insurance. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO THE LITERATURE?: This paper re-evaluates current ethnic differences in patterns of care for universally insured adults following an index nonoperative admission for diverticulitis. These findings demonstrate that differences in patterns of care are not fully alleviated by access to insurance, and further efforts to target other socioeconomic drivers of health are needed.