Trends in Emergency Medicaid Expenditures for Recent and Undocumented Immigrants

Trends in Emergency Medicaid Expenditures for Recent and Undocumented Immigrants
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Category: Life

Trends in Emergency Medicaid Expenditures for Recent and Undocumented Immigrants

C. Annette DuBard, MD, MPH; Mark W. Massing, MD, MPH, PhD

JAMA. 2007;297:1085-1092.

March 14, 2007

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/10/1085

Context Undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants who have been in the United States less than 5 years are excluded from Medicaid eligibility, with the exception of limited coverage for emergency conditions (Emergency Medicaid). New immigrant population growth has been rapid in recent years, but little is known about use of health services by this group or the conditions for which Emergency Medicaid coverage has been applied.

Objective To describe Emergency Medicaid use by recent and undocumented immigrants including patient characteristics, diagnoses, and recent spending trends in North Carolina, a state with a rapidly increasing population of undocumented immigrants.

Design, Setting, and Patients Descriptive analysis of North Carolina Medicaid administrative data for all claims reimbursed under Emergency Medicaid eligibility criteria 2001 through 2004 in North Carolina, a state with high immigration from Mexico and Latin America. Patients are recent and undocumented immigrants who meet categorical and income criteria for Medicaid coverage, but are excluded from full coverage due to legal status.

Main Outcome Measures Patient characteristics, hospitalizations, diagnoses, and Medicaid spending for emergency care.

Results A total of 48 391 individuals received services reimbursed under Emergency Medicaid during the 4-year period of this study. The patient population was 99% undocumented, 93% Hispanic, 95% female, and 89% in the 18- to 40-year age group. Total spending increased by 28% from 2001 through 2004, with more rapid spending increases among elderly (98%) and disabled (82%) patients. In 2004, childbirth and complications of pregnancy accounted for 82% of spending and 91% of hospitalizations. Injury, renal failure, gastrointestinal disease, and cardiovascular conditions were also prevalent.

Conclusions Childbirth and complications of pregnancy account for the majority of Emergency Medicaid spending for undocumented immigrants in North Carolina. Spending for elderly and disabled patients, however, is increasing at a faster rate. Among nonpregnant immigrants, injuries, other acute emergencies, and severe complications of chronic disease are major contributors to Emergency Medicaid use.


Author Affiliations: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Division of Medical Assistance, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh (Dr DuBard); The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence, Cary, NC (Dr Massing).

3:27 PM - 14 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
kris, mexican-minuteman


Thanks for reposting this from my blog.

REUTERS says this source proves illegals don't drive up the cost of medicaid. Those LEft wing liberal propogandists.

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 3:56 PM
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Nevada Lights


Those damned dirty liars!!

Anytime, my friend!

You know I love you!


Posted by Nevada Lights on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 3:58 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


and I love you to

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 6:18 PM
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Nevada Lights


You better!!!


Posted by Nevada Lights on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 6:56 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


Oh, I have to? Okay.

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 10:54 PM
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Nevada Lights


Damned straight yuo have to.....or ELSE!!!


Gggrrrr!!!!!



Gggrrrrrr !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Nevada Lights on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 10:58 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


Damn, I LOVE women with that attitude hon

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:05 PM
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Nevada Lights


Shut up before I spank your dumb ass.

After I spank Rush!

Posted by Nevada Lights on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:10 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


But now you have loads of comments on a single blog.

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:13 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


Yes mam

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:12 PM
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Nevada Lights



Mmmmmm! That;s the answer that I like!!

Posted by Nevada Lights on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:13 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


I think you could also use this.

http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_5447076

Just helping out a favorite friend.

--Kris

Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:17 PM
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Nevada Lights


I went out with a Kris in Reno - hot little polymers engineer. He was young and dumb though. Kind of stuck in college mode.

Thanks for the article but I'm not impressed with that information. Thats an insult to us if they think a deportation pf 23 out 65 will make Americans happy...

pathetic!

Thank you for fetching that information for me though!

XOXOXOXOXO


Posted by Nevada Lights on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:27 PM
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kris, mexican-minuteman


You're verry welcome.



Posted by kris, mexican-minuteman on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 11:35 PM
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