Clinical and Economic Burden of COPD in a Medicaid Population

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and economic burden of COPD patients to Medicaid. Study Design: Retrospective, observational matched cohort design. Methods: We calculated the incremental costs incurred and medical resources used by COPD patients relative to those without COPD. Data were obtained from 8 Medicaid states during 2003-2007. COPD patients were defined as Medicaid beneficiaries >= 40 years with a COPD diagnosis (ICD-9 CM: 491.xx, 492.xx, 496. xx) and treated with maintenance drugs for COPD. Patients were matched (1: 3) to Medicaid beneficiaries without a COPD diagnosis on age, gender, race, index year, Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibility, and use of long-term care. Results were stratified by Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibility status and race. Results: A total of 10,221 COPD and 30,663 non-COPD patients were included. Cohorts were on average 65 years of age, 80% White, and 64.8% having Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibility. Inpatient hospitalizations and home healthcare visits/durable medical equipment were primary drivers of incremental medical costs. COPD patients were more than twice as likely to have a hospitalization (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.32 [2.19, 2.45]) or home healthcare visit/durable medical equipment (2.95 [2.82, 3.08]) compared to non-COPD patients. Medicaid incurred $ 2118/year in incremental costs due to COPD. On average, incremental costs were 7 times greater for non-dual-eligible patients ($ 4917) compared to dual-eligible patients ($ 667), and were more than double for Blacks compared to Whites ($ 4141 vs $ 1593). Conclusion: COPD imposes a substantial economic and clinical burden on the Medicaid program; this burden differs by dual eligibility status and race.