In a recently concluded study published in the JAMA Surgery journal, Medicaid covered patients undergoing surgery were found to have more surgery complications, have longer postoperative recovery time and consequently higher surgery costs compared to privately insured patients. According to the researchers at the University of Michigan, the study covered medical records of 14,000 patients who had operations in 52 medical institutions.
The study concluded that although Medicaid covered patients were younger compared to privately insured patients, they were more likely to smoke and have health complications that made surgery riskier due to poor health habits. These complications in Medicaid covered patients include blood vessel blockage, diabetes and lung disease. The study discovered that Medicaid patients had longer recovery time after surgery which raised surgery costs.
Michigan and many other states in the U.S have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover uninsured patients under the Affordable Care Act. This research gives a prelude of what to expect as millions of uninsured patients qualify coverage under Medicaid.
Dr. Darrell A. Campbell Jr., the chief medical officer of the University of Michigan Health System, who led the study shed some light on the bad health habits that make Medicaid patient undergoing surgery be at high risk. Surgery patients who are heavy smokers tend to get pneumonia after surgery while diabetic patients when their blood sugar is out of control have increased chance of wound infection after surgery. By treating these problems preoperatively there will be quick recovery time and less surgery costs. The expansion of the Medical care insurance program will enable clinicians to get surgery patients in the best shape for operations.
Michigan has recently expanded Medicaid insurance programs making over half a million previously uninsured patient qualified for Medicaid coverage. Since starting to receive applications on 1 st April over 237,000 have applied.
