A new analysis by the Urban Institute has revealed significant racial disparities in preventable hospitalizations among Medicaid patients. The study, published on Wednesday, found that Black Medicaid enrollees were more likely to be hospitalized for preventable conditions compared to their white counterparts.
The analysis focused on preventable conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and heart failure. Among patients previously diagnosed with heart failure and eligible for Medicaid through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, 12.7 percent of Black patients experienced preventable hospitalizations. This rate was nearly double that of white enrollees, of whom only 7.2 percent faced similar hospitalizations.
Researchers observed variations in these trends across different states and conditions. For instance, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania showed higher rates of preventable hospitalizations for asthma and COPD among Black patients compared to white patients. Conversely, Texas reported lower rates for Black patients in the same category.
The study suggests that these racial disparities may be attributed to various factors, including issues with provider access and underlying root causes such as poor air quality, stress, and limited access to healthy and affordable food.
The Urban Institute emphasized the importance of documenting these patterns as a crucial step in identifying populations at higher risk for preventable hospitalizations. This research sheds light on the ongoing health disparities faced by Black Medicaid patients and underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes.
See “Black Medicaid patients more likely to be hospitalized for preventable conditions: Analysis” (January 24, 2024)
