AHRQ Study: Preventive Care Visits Increased in States That Expanded Medicaid

In states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, preventive care visits at community health centers increased 41 percent, according to a new AHRQ-funded study. The study was based on electronic health record data of more than 400,000 patients at nearly 220 community health centers in five states that did expand Medicaid coverage (California, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and Washington) and four states that did not (Alabama, Indiana, Montana and North Carolina). The analysis looked at patients ages 19 to 64 who were either uninsured or had Medicaid or private insurance. Researchers compared patient visit rates during the 12-month period before Medicaid expansion (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013) and the 12-month period after (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2014). In addition to the increase in preventive care visits, the rate of new patient visits climbed 14 percent and visits for services such as lab tests increased 23 percent in states with expanded Medicaid coverage. The study, “Utilization of Community Health Centers in Medicaid Expansion and Non-Expansion States, 2013-2014” andabstract were published in the January 13 issue of the Journal of Ambulatory Care Management.

2016 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Utilization of Community Health Centers in Medicaid Expansion and Nonexpansion States, 2013-2014.

Hoopes MJ1, Angier H, Gold R, Bailey SR, Huguet N, Marino M, DeVoe JE.

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Abstract

Using electronic health record data, we examined longitudinal changes in community health center (CHC) visit rates from 2013 through 2014 inMedicaid expansion versus nonexpansion states. Visits from 219 CHCs in 5 expansion states and 4 nonexpansion states were included. Rates were computed using generalized estimating equation Poisson models. Rates increased in expansion state CHCs for new patient, preventive, and limited-service visits (14%, 41%, and 23%, respectively, P < .01 for all), whereas these rates remained unchanged in nonexpansion states. One year after ACA Medicaid expansions, CHCs in expansion states saw an influx of new patients and provided increased preventive services.