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Health Care Use and Spending for Medicaid Enrollees in Federally Qualified Health Centers Versus Other Primary Care Settings

Authors :
Yue Gao
Marshall H. Chin
Leiyu Shi
Robert S. Nocon
Ravi K. Sharma
Dana B. Mukamel
Quyen Ngo-Metzger
Neda Laiteerapong
Sang Mee Lee
Elbert S. Huang
Laura M. White
Source :
American journal of public health, vol 106, iss 11
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
eScholarship, University of California, 2016.

Abstract

Objectives. To compare health care use and spending of Medicaid enrollees seen at federally qualified health centers versus non–health center settings in a context of significant growth. Methods. Using fee-for-service Medicaid claims from 13 states in 2009, we compared patients receiving the majority of their primary care in federally qualified health centers with propensity score–matched comparison groups receiving primary care in other settings. Results. We found that health center patients had lower use and spending than did non–health center patients across all services, with 22% fewer visits and 33% lower spending on specialty care and 25% fewer admissions and 27% lower spending on inpatient care. Total spending was 24% lower for health center patients. Conclusions. Our analysis of 2009 Medicaid claims, which includes the largest sample of states and more recent data than do previous multistate claims studies, demonstrates that the health center program has provided a cost-efficient setting for primary care for Medicaid enrollees.

Details

Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
American journal of public health, vol 106, iss 11
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....1334bceb39a66773f99fc76cdacfa80e