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Research Objective. This study investigates the impact of misreporting by Medicaid recipients on estimates of the uninsured in Louisiana, and is based on similar work by Call et al. in Minnesota and Klerman, Ringel, and Roth in California. With its unique charity hospital system, culture, and high poverty, Louisiana provides an interesting and unique context for examining Medicaid underreporting. Study Design. Results are based on a random sample of 2,985 Medicaid households. Respondents received a standard questionnaire to identify health insurance status, and individual records were matched to Medicaid enrollment data to identify misreporting. Data Sources. Data were collected by the Public Policy Research Lab at Louisiana State University using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Using Medicaid enrollment data to obtain contact information, the Louisiana Health Insurance Survey was administered to 2,985 households containing Medicaid recipients. Matching responses on individuals from these households to Medicaid enrollment data yielded responses for 3,199 individuals. Conclusions. Results suggest relatively high rates of underreporting among Medicaid recipients in Louisiana for both children and adults. Given the very high proportion of Medicaid recipients in the population, this may translate up to a 3 percent bias in estimates of uninsured populations. Implications. Medicaid bias may be particularly pronounced in areas with high Medicaid enrollments. Misreporting rates and thus the bias in estimates of the uninsured may differ across areas of the United States with important consequences for Medicaid funding. Funding Source. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dualtobacco and polytobacco use were prevalent among Black and Hispanic men. • Exclusive cigarette smokers were at decreased odds of having a primary care visit. • Exclusive cigarette smokers were at increased odds of having an ED visit. • Dualtobacco and polytobacco users were at increased odds of having an ED visit. • Polytobacco users were at increased odds of having an overnight hospital stay. Tobacco use disparities persist among U.S. adults who are male, racially/ethnically diverse, and have chronic conditions. This study assessed current tobacco use patterns associated with past year healthcare utilization among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men ≥40 years old with ≥1 chronic condition. Data were collected from a sample of 1,904 non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men from across the U.S. using an internet-delivered survey. Participants were categorized into four tobacco use groups: nontobacco users, exclusive cigarette smokers, dualtobacco users (cigarettes + one other tobacco product), and polytobacco users (cigarettes + ≥2 other tobacco products). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess current tobacco use patterns with past year primary care visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and overnight hospital stays. Adjusted models included participants' age, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, health insurance coverage, body mass index, and number of chronic conditions. Relative to nontobacco users, exclusive cigarette smokers were at decreased odds of having a past year primary care visit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47–0.99). Exclusive cigarette smokers (AOR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.25–2.19), dualtobacco users (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI = 1.23–2.50), and polytobacco users (AOR = 4.10, 95%CI = 2.46–6.84) were at increased odds of having a past year ED visit compared to nontobacco users. Additionally, polytobacco users were at increased odds of having a past year overnight hospital stay (AOR = 2.72, 95%CI = 1.73–4.29) compared to nontobacco users. Findings suggest current tobacco use patterns are uniquely associated with past year healthcare utilization among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, while taking into consideration important factors including complex disease profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]