{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]],"date-time":"2025-10-21T00:35:58Z","timestamp":1761006958919,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,8]],"date-time":"2024-02-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1707350400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["aao-hnsfjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Otolaryngol.--head neck surg."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>Characterizing access to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) care at private practice otolaryngology clinics of varying ownership models.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Study Design<\/jats:title><jats:p>Cross\u2010sectional prospective review.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title><jats:p>Private practice otolaryngology clinics.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We employed a Secret Shopper study design with private equity (PE) owned and non\u2010PE\u2010owned clinics within 15 miles of one another. Using a standardized script, researchers randomly called 50% of each clinic type between October 2021 and January 2022 requesting an appointment on behalf of a family member enrolled in either Medicaid or private insurance (PI) experiencing SSNHL. Access to timely care was assessed between clinic ownership and insurance type.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Seventy\u2010eight total PE\u2010owned otolaryngology clinics were identified across the United States. Only 40 non\u2010PE clinics could be matched to the PE clinics; 39 PE and 28 non\u2010PE clinics were called as Medicaid patients; 39\u00a0PE and 25 non\u2010PE clinics were called as PI patients; 48.7% of PE and 28.6% of non\u2010PE clinics accepted Medicaid. The mean wait time to new appointment ranged between 9.55 and 13.21 days for all insurance and ownership types but did not vary significantly (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009&gt;\u2009.480). Telehealth was significantly more likely to be offered for new Medicaid patients at non\u2010PE clinics compared to PE clinics (31.8% vs 0.0%, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009.001). The mean cost for an appointment was significantly greater at PE clinics than at non\u2010PE clinics ($291.18 vs $203.75, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009.004).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Patients seeking SSNHL care at PE\u2010owned otolaryngology clinics are likely to face long wait times prior to obtaining an initial appointment and reduced telehealth options.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/ohn.665","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,8]],"date-time":"2024-02-08T03:24:56Z","timestamp":1707362696000},"page":"1705-1711","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Access to Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Care at Private Equity\u2010Owned Otolaryngology Clinics"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"170","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7268-6142","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afash","family":"Haleem","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology\u2013Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA"},{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology\u2013Head and Neck Surgery Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Newark New Jersey USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alejandro","family":"Garcia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology\u2013Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sophia","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology The College of New Jersey Ewing New Jersey USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Purvi","family":"Shakelly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology The College of New Jersey Ewing New Jersey USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Daniel J.","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology\u2013Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA"},{"name":"Division of Otolaryngology\u2013Head and Neck Surgery Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_7_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yasu.2022.02.003"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamasurg.2021.3642"},{"volume-title":"Soaring Private Equity Investment in the Healthcare\u00a0Sector: 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