Medicaid eligibility expansions increase access to diabetes medications, suggests a new study published in Health Affairs.
For the study, researchers examined data on more than 96 million diabetes prescriptions for patients ages 20-64 using Medicaid coverage from January 2008 to December 2015. They compared diabetes prescription fills before and after Medicaid eligibility expansions in 29 states and Washington, D.C., which all expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2014 and 2015. Researchers also compared trends in diabetes prescription fills in Medicaid expansion states with such trends in 21 states that did not expand Medicaid. .
The study found 30 more Medicaid diabetes medications filled per 1,000 population among adults ages 20-64 in 2014-15 in states that expanded Medicaid compared to states that didn't. It also found age groups with higher diabetes prevalence before the ACA (ages 55-59, for example) showed larger increases in diabetes prescription fills after Medicaid expansion.
Researchers also found diabetes prescription fills in Medicaid expansion states "grew significantly over time."
Annual prescription fills for diabetes medications insulin and metformin using Medicaid insurance each climbed about 40 percent after Medicaid expansions.
"Our findings suggest that Medicaid eligibility expansions may address gaps in access to diabetes medications, with increasing effects over time," the study's authors concluded.
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