Health care utilization patterns of homeless individuals in Boston: Preparing for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act

M. Bharel, W.-C. Lin, J. Zhang, E. O'Connell, R. Taube and R.E. Clark

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue S2, S311-S317

Abstract: Objectives. We studied 6494 Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) patients to understand the disease burden and health care utilization patterns for a group of insured homeless individuals. Methods. We studied merged BHCHP data and MassHealth eligibility, claims, and encounter data from 2010. MassHealth claims and encounter data provided a comprehensive history of health care utilization and expenditures, as well as associated diagnoses, in both general medical and behavioral health services sectors and across a broad range of health care settings. Results. The burden of disease was high, with the majority of patients experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, and a number of medical diseases. Hospitalization and emergency room use were frequent and total expenditures were 3.8 times the rate of an average Medicaid recipient. Conclusions. The Affordable Care Act provides a framework for reforming the health care system to improve the coordination of care and outcomes for vulnerable populations. However, improved health care coverage alone may not be enough. Health care must be integrated with other resources to address the complex challenges presented by inadequate housing, hunger, and unsafe environments.

Keywords: adult; ambulatory care; economics; emergency health service; female; health care cost; health care policy; health service; health status; homelessness; hospitalization; human; insurance; legislation and jurisprudence; length of stay; male; medicaid; Mental Disorders; middle aged; statistics and numerical data; United States; utilization; article; health care policy; health service; homelessness; legal aspect; medicaid; mental disease; statistics; United States; utilization review, Adult; Ambulatory Care; Boston; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Expenditures; Health Services; Health Status; Homeless Persons; Hospitalization; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Length of Stay; Male; Medicaid; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; United States, Adult; Ambulatory Care; Boston; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Expenditures; Health Services; Health Status; Homeless Persons; Hospitalization; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Length of Stay; Male; Medicaid; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301421_5

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301421

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