Health care use and spending for medicaid enrollees in federally qualified health centers versus other primary care settings

Robert S. Nocon, Sang Mee Lee, Ravi Sharma, Quyen Ngo-Metzger, Dana B. Mukamel, Yue Gao, Laura M. White, Leiyu Shi, Marshall H. Chin, Neda Laiteerapong, Elbert S. Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1981-1989
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican journal of public health
Volume106
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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