Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST-CNRS R0xmGpGB. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Objectives. We sought to determine whether health care use and expenditures among gay and bisexual men were reduced following the enactment of same-sex marriage laws in Massachusetts in 2003. Methods. We used quasi-experimental, prospective data from 1211 sexual minority male patients in a community-based health center in Massachusetts. Results. In the 12 months after the legalization of same-sex marriage, sexual minority men had a statistically significant decrease in medical care visits (mean =5.00 vs mean =4.67 ; P =05 ; Cohen's d =0.17), mental health care visits (mean =24.72 vs mean =22.20 ; P =03 ; Cohen's d =0.35), and mental health care costs (mean =$2442.28 vs mean =$2137.38 ; P =01 ; Cohen's d =0.41), compared with the 12 months before the law change. These effects were not modified by partnership status, indicating that the health effect of same-sex marriage laws was similar for partnered and nonpartnered men. Conclusions. Policies that confer protections to same-sex couples may be effective in reducing health care use and costs among sexual minority men.
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