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

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.

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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