Rebecca Araujo

Urban Health Today

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care reported geographic variability in allergists accepting Medicaid, which may create of exacerbate barriers to allergy care in the US.The researchers utilized the National Plan &amp; Provider Enumeration System database to identify allergists and determine Medicaid acceptance. The study included data from 5,694 allergists.Overall, 55% of allergists accepted Medicaid, but this rate fluctuated by state. The range of acceptance was 13% to 90%. Medicaid was accepted by less than 50% of allergists in 13 states. The states with the lowest proportions of Medicaid acceptance and Medicaid acceptance per 10,000 enrollees were Washington and Arizona. The Northeast was the region with the lowest acceptance.The authors noted that county-level characteristics were not associated with likelihood of Medicaid acceptance. The percentage of individuals living in poverty was associated with increased likelihood of Medicaid acceptance (odds ratio, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.156&ndash;1.340; P&lt;.001).&ldquo;A barrier to accessing allergy-related health care is the limited number of providers who accept Medicaid, which varies greatly within and among states. Such health inequity may be contributing to more Medicaid-insured patients seeking allergy care from primary care providers, who may be less equipped to provide specialty diagnosis and treatment, such as skin testing, oral challenges, etc,&rdquo; the authors concluded. They called for an expansion in the number of allergy providers who accept Medicaid as well as policy changes to remove barriers to care for patients with Medicaid.Source: <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/geographic-variability-of-medicaid-acceptance-among-allergists-in-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Journal of Managed Care</a>

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Variable Medicaid Acceptance Among Allergists May Exacerbate Barriers to Care

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Medicaid was accepted by less than half of allergists in 13 states. 

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