Access to Transportation and Health Care Visits for Medicaid Enrollees With Diabetes

An Effective Practice

Description

The study evaluated the association between Medicaid-provided NEMT and diabetes care visits using demographic and claims data obtained from the Oklahoma Medicaid program. It was conducted using a retrospective analysis without comparison group (n=8,411 Medicaid beneficiaries, some of whom were also dually enrolled in Medicare).

Goal / Mission

The goal of the study was to evaluate the association between Medicaid‐provided nonemergency medical transportation and diabetes care visits.

Impact

The findings of this study underscore the importance of ensuring transportation to Medicaid populations with diabetes, particularly in the rural areas where the prevalence of diabetes and complications are higher and the availability of medical resources lower than in the urban areas.

Results / Accomplishments

Providing NEMT resulted in a statistically significant increase in outpatient visits for diabetes care. The number of diabetes care visits would increase by an estimated 0.6563 for every 2 uses of NEMT services.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Leela V. Thomas, PhD
Department of Social Work, Delaware State University
1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901
lthomas@desu.edu
Topics
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Community / Transportation
Source
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
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