The Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Diagnosis, Care and Treatment for Diabetic Patients: Evidence from Medicaid Expansion in Wisconsin
Abstract
We report time-series evidence on the effect of gaining Medicaid insurance on healthcare and outcomes for diabetic patients, using difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis of visit-level electronic healthcare records, before and after Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin in 2014. We compare newly-enrolled childless adults to a propensity-score-balanced control group of previously-enrolled persons. Gaining insurance leads to sharply higher utilization (outpatient, ED, and hospitalization); large increases in testing rates; new diagnoses of diabetes and other chronic conditions; related prescriptions; and improved intermediate health outcomes (blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels) but no change in longer-term outcomes (macrovascular events; advanced kidney disease; amputations).