141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

285546
Health care use among limited english proficiency enrollees with chronic conditions: Findings from California's low income health program

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Erin Salce, MPH , Senior Research Associate, Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Nadereh Pourat, PhD , Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health/UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
Xiao Chen, PhD , UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Dylan Roby, PhD , UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
Background: The Low Income Health Program (LIHP) is a county-operated Medicaid Waiver demonstration program which expands coverage to eligible low income adults effective July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), LIHP enrollees will transition to California's Medi-Cal Program or Health Benefit Exchange. The delivery of care to those with chronic conditions and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) can be more challenging and would require culturally competent care coordination. The safety net providers participating in the LIHP program deliver such services.

Methods: We used claims and enrollment data from 12 participating counties and a consortium of 35 rural counties. Over 500,000 individuals enrolled in LIHP during the first program year were included in the analysis. Preference for communication in a language other than English was used as a proxy for LEP status. Chronic conditions included diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. LEP, sex, age, federal poverty level, county and a chronic condition indicator were predictors of inpatient, emergency room (ER), and outpatient evaluation and management (E&M) utilization using logistic regression models.

Results: Compared to non-LEP enrollees, LEP enrollees were more likely to be female, over the age of 55, and have a diagnosis of diabetes, dyslipidemia, or hypertension. Over 30% of LIHP enrollees with a chronic condition were LEP, with 70% of LEP enrollees preferring Spanish, 23% preferring Asian American languages, and 7% preferring another language. Those with chronic conditions had higher rates of E&M, ER, and inpatient visits. However, those with LEP and chronic conditions had a significantly higher likelihood of E&M visits (OR=1.5) than non- LEP (OR=1.1), after controlling for potential confounders. In contrast, those with LEP and chronic conditions had a lower likelihood of ER (0.6 vs. 0.7) and inpatient (0.6 vs. 0.7) visits.

Conclusions: Higher E&M use and lower use of ER and inpatient care among chronically ill and LEP LIHP enrollees may be due to better culturally competent primary care visits which in turn contributed to lower use of more costly emergency and inpatient services. The effectiveness of care delivery under the Medicaid expansion and Health Benefit Exchange programs may be improved with additional effort to improve delivery of culturally concordant care management.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess variations in utilization patterns of LEP LIHP enrollees with chronic conditions. Compare LEP and non-LEP LIHP enrollees eligible for health insurance through the ACA.

Keywords: Health Reform, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the lead analyst for the Low Income Health Program evaluation conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. I am experienced in program evaluation and health services research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.