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External Determinants of Veterans’ Utilization of VA Health Care
Author(s) -
Hanchate Amresh D.,
Frakt Austin B.,
Kressin Nancy R.,
Trivedi Amal,
Linsky Amy,
Abdulkerim Hassen,
Stolzmann Kelly L.,
Mohr David C.,
Pizer Steven D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6773.13011
Subject(s) - health care , medicine , medline , gerontology , environmental health , nursing , political science , economics , economic growth , law
Objective Veterans’ utilization of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) health care is likely influenced by community factors external to the VA , including Medicaid eligibility and unemployment, although such factors are rarely considered in models predicting such utilization. We measured the sensitivity of VA utilization to changes in such community factors (hereafter, “external determinants”), including the 2014 Medicaid expansion following the Affordable Care Act. Data Sources/Study Setting We merged VA health care enrollment and utilization data with area‐level data on Medicaid policy, unemployment, employer‐sponsored insurance, housing prices, and non‐ VA physician availability (2008–2014). Study Design For veterans aged 18–64 and ≥65, we estimated the sensitivity of annual individual VA health care utilization, measured by the cost ($) of care received, to changes in external determinants using longitudinal regression models controlling for individual fixed effects. Principal Findings All external determinants were associated with small but significant changes in VA health care utilization. In states that expanded Medicaid in 2014, this expansion was associated with 9.1 percent ($826 million) reduction in VA utilization among those aged 18–64; sizable changes occurred in all services used (inpatient, outpatient, and prescription drugs). Conclusions Changes in alternative insurance coverage and other external determinants may affect VA health care spending. Policy makers should consider these factors in allocating VA resources to meet local demand.