Difference in Hospital Utilization Within the First 12 Months Among Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Medicaid Managed Care Versus Fee-for-Service: A Regression Discontinuity Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Journal / Book Title

Maternal and Child Health Journal

Abstract

Objective

To examine the effect of Medicaid managed care (MMC) versus Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) on emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization during the first 6 and 12 months of life among low-birth-weight (LBW) infants.

Methods

We used the New York City Office of Vital Statistics—Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (OVS-SPARCS) dataset to identify 9135 LBW infants born to female Medicaid beneficiaries in New York City from January 2008–March 2012. We applied a robust regression discontinuity framework using a New York State Medicaid policy in effect at that time. This policy automatically enrolled infants born to female Medicaid beneficiaries to Medicaid managed care (MMC) or Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) based on their birth weight (less than 1200 g vs. 1200–2500 g) during the first 6 months of their lives.

Results

LBW infants in MMC had an average 0.16% points higher probability of being hospitalized within the first year of their lives than those in Medicaid FFS (p-value = 0.04).

Conclusions for Practice

More research is necessary to understand possible differences in healthcare utilization between MMC and FFS participants with high health risks.

DOI

10.1007/s10995-021-03185-5

Published Citation

Liu, S.Y., Lim, S. Difference in Hospital Utilization Within the First 12 Months Among Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Medicaid Managed Care Versus Fee-for-Service: A Regression Discontinuity Study. Matern Child Health J (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03185-5

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