• Frances O Ho, Chaoyi Zheng, Mech Frazier, Sai R Nimmagadda, Ruchi S Gupta, and Lucy A Bilaver.
• Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Dr, Floor 6, Room 676, Chicago, IL 60611. Email: l-bilaver@northwestern.edu.
• Am J Manag Care. 2024 Aug 1; 30 (8): 374379374-379.

ObjectiveTo determine the geographic variability of Medicaid acceptance among allergists in the US.Study DesignGeospatial analysis predicted Medicaid acceptance across space, and a multivariable regression identified area-level population demographic variables associated with acceptance.MethodsWe used the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System database to identify allergists. Medicaid acceptance was determined from lists or search engines from state Medicaid offices and calls to provider offices. Spatial analysis was performed using the empirical Bayesian kriging tool. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify county-level characteristics associated with provider Medicaid acceptance.ResultsOf 5694 allergists, 55.5% accepted Medicaid. Acceptance in each state ranged from 13% to 90%. Washington, Arizona, and the Northeast had lowest predicted proportion of both Medicaid acceptance and Medicaid acceptance per 10,000 enrollees. Overall, county-level characteristics were not associated with the likelihood of accepting Medicaid in multivariate analyses. Only the percentage of individuals living in poverty was associated with a higher likelihood of providers accepting Medicaid (OR, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.156-1.340; P < .001).ConclusionsA barrier to accessing allergy-related health care is finding a provider who accepts a patient's insurance, which is largely variable by state. Lack of access to allergy care likely affects health outcomes for children with prevalent atopic conditions such as food allergy.

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