• Kevin J Dombkowski, Rachel Stanley, and Sarah J Clark.
• Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109-0456, USA. kjd@med.umich.edu
• Arch Pediat Adol Med. 2004 Jan 1; 158 (1): 17-21.

ObjectiveTo explore the association between Medicaid managed care plan enrollment and emergency department (ED) utilization.DesignRetrospective cohort analysis using administrative claims data.ParticipantsA total of 518 982 nondisabled children 1 to 18 years of age who were Medicaid beneficiaries in calendar year 2000.Main Outcome MeasuresAnnual visit rates per 1000 member-months and incidence rate ratios for complex and noncomplex ED visits. Medicaid beneficiaries were classified on the basis of months enrolled in managed care. Administrative claims for ED visits were classified as complex or noncomplex on the basis of procedure and diagnostic codes. Multivariate logistic regression models of the incidence rate ratios were used to compare children with varying degrees of enrollment in Medicaid man-aged care with a reference group consisting of those exclusively enrolled in Medicaid managed care.ResultsOverall, 22% of children receiving Medicaid made 1 or more ED visits in 2000; 77% of ED visits were for noncomplex services. Children who spent less than half of their enrolled months in managed care used complex ED services 37% more frequently (P<.001) and noncomplex services 11% more frequently (P<.001) than those exclusively enrolled in Medicaid managed care.ConclusionsChildren with all of their Medicaid enrollment in managed care have the lowest ED utilization rates for complex and noncomplex services. These results suggest that reducing delays in managed care plan enrollment may be an effective strategy to reduce ED utilization for this population.

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