Medicaid's role in critical care after Medicaid expansion: evidence from Virginia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Medicaid provides access to care for low-income patients facing life-threatening illnesses who are cared for in intensive care units (ICUs). Despite the growth of Medicaid coverage with the Affordable Care Act, little is known about Medicaid's role in critical care for the Medicaid Expansion population, adults ages 19-64.

Methods

Using hospital discharge data from Virginia, we examined payer composition between 2016 and 2023 and analyzed 2023 demographic and clinical data for adults ages 19-64.

Results

Medicaid's share of ICU stays more than doubled from 2016 (14.1%) to 2023 (31.8%). While only 25.6% of Medicaid hospitalizations involved ICU care, these stays account disproportionately for charges (51.7%), hospital days (36.9%), and readmissions (32.3%).

SUBMITTER: Marks SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12715180 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature