Transition to managed care impacts health care service utilization by children insured by Medicaid.
Purpose. To evaluate the impact of transition to managed care from fee for service on asthma service utilization among Maryland Medicaid insured children. Methods. Healthcare claims from 1997-2000 for children with asthma insured by Maryland Medicaid were extracted and analyzed. Results. Between 1997-2000, inhaled corticosteroid use increased as a proportion of all asthma medications. Outpatient asthma visits increased from 4.2% to 5.9% of all outpatient claims as both asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased. Conclusions. Restructuring of Maryland Medicaid for children from fee for service to managed care was associated with improvement in asthma-related healthcare utilization claims.
Bollinger
Mary Elizabeth
ME
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology/Allergy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. mbolling@peds.umaryland.edu
Smith
Sheila Weiss
SW
LoCasale
Robert
R
Blaisdell
Carol
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008396:Maryland; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents