An Examination of Service Utilization and Expenditures among Adults with Diabetes Enrolled in Maryland’s Medicaid Managed Care Program

Abstract

This report presents the findings of an assessment of the impact Medicaid program. The assessment focuses on adults aged 35 to 64 years enrolled in HealthChoice, Maryland’s Medicaid managed care program. The Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) conducted this assessment for MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, to provide a detailed view of the effects of diabetes diagnoses on the use of health care services and expenditures among adult HealthChoice enrollees. The assessment was guided by the following questions: • What are the demographics of adult HealthChoice enrollees with diabetes? • What are the costs of these services? • How do the service utilization and expenditures of adult HealthChoice enrollees with diabetes compare to adult HealthChoice enrollees without diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce adequate insulin or the body cannot use insulin correctly. It is a chronic and serious illness that affects more than 29 million Americans. Those with diabetes have a higher risk of developing severe health issues, such as kidney failure, stroke, and amputations. Medicaid plays an important role in providing health care coverage for those with diabetes. In fiscal year 2003, Medicaid covered 15 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States.