Utilization of High-Volume Hospitals for High-Risk Cancer Surgery in California Following Medicaid Expansion.

introductionA primary goal of the recent state and federal health reform is to increase access to care through expanded insurance coverage. We sought to evaluate the effect of Medicaid expansion (ME) on four high-risk cancer operations in California.

methodsThe California Office of Statewide Health Planning database was used to identify patients who underwent either lung, esophageal, pancreas, or rectal resection for cancer between 2012 and 2016. To include only patients eligible for Medicaid and not Medicare, patients > 65 years were excluded. Trends in insurance coverage rates and utilization of high-volume hospitals were evaluated relative to the pre-policy (2012-2013) versus the post-policy (2014-2016) period.

resultsOverall 10,569 individuals (esophageal: 5.6%; lung: 38%; pancreas: 14.1%; rectal: 42.3%) underwent a cancer operation. Following ME, Medicaid coverage increased from 12.4 to 20.2% (p < 0.001). There were no differences in age, sex, and race of Medicare beneficiaries pre- versus post-policy implementation (all p > 0.05). Of note, following ME, there was an increase in probability of utilization of high-volume hospitals for lung (47.6% vs. 56.3%), rectal (74.0% vs. 77.7%), and pancreas (60.2% vs. 68.5%) (p < 0.05 for all) cancer operations. Overall probability of surgery at a high-volume center after expansion increased by 5.8% among Medicaid beneficiaries versus other patients in the same time period. ME was not associated, however, with improvement in clinical outcomes such as complications, in-hospital mortality, or readmission (all p > 0.05).

conclusionME was associated with an increase in Medicaid coverage, which resulted in more beneficiaries undergoing cancer operations at high-volume hospitals. While ME was associated with increased access to care, peri-operative outcomes were comparable pre- versus post-ME implementation.