Factors influencing receipt of specialty neurologic care for patients with Huntington's disease in Colorado

Background Despite recognized importance of specialized neurological care for patients with Huntington's disease (HD), little is known about the number or characteristics of patients who receive this type of care. Objectives To identify differences between patients receiving care from a movement disorders specialist (MDS) compared to a general neurologist using data from the Colorado All Payers Claims Database between 2019 and 2022. Methods Logistic regression models were used to compare characteristics of patients who had received care from a MDS compared to a general neurologist in a given year. Results Approximately half (49.9%) of patients with HD received care from any neurologist and a third (33.8%) received care from a MDS. There were no differences in characteristics between patients who received MDS care compared to general neurologist care. Conclusions Practice-related characteristics and patient perspectives on care access warrant further study to clarify barriers to specialized neurological care.