Specialist access and leg amputations among Texas Medicaid patients

Abstract

Medicaid coverage among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been associated with higher rates of primary amputations. We sought to determine the relative contributions of clinical, demographic, and hospital factors to leg amputations among Texas Medicaid patients. Patient-level data were used to identify patients who underwent treatment for PAD-related foot complications in Texas. Patients were categorized into groups by insurance provider (Medicaid, Medicare, dual-enrollee, commercial, and provider network). Individual- and area-level multivariate analyses were used to find associations with primary amputation. Of 21,592 patients identified, 8.8% were covered by Medicaid, 35.3% by Medicare, 27.8% by Medicare and Medicaid, 7.3% by commercial insurance, and 20.7% by a provider network. Compared with commercially insured patients, Medicaid patients more often underwent amputation (33% v 49%), were categorized as Black or Hispanic (45% v 64%), presented with gangrene (61% v 71%), were admitted through an emergency department (61% v 73%), and were admitted to a safety net hospital (3% v 16%). They had lower relative rates of outpatient evaluation (1.33 v 0.55) and their hospitalizations were less centralized (Gini coefficient 0.43 v 0.39) (P < .001 for all). Amputations among Medicaid patients were associated with infection and gangrene, care at safety net hospitals, rate of outpatient visits, and Black and Hispanic race, even after risk-adjustment (P < .001). Leg amputations among Medicaid patients were associated with race, disease severity, hospital characteristics, and outpatient evaluation rates, but not with provider density and location. Focusing efforts on preventative care and early outpatient referrals could help address this disparity.