Preventable Hospitalizations Are More Common Among Black Medicaid Enrollees

Black Medicaid enrollees were more likely to be hospitalized for preventable reasons than white enrollees, regardless of whether they were enrolled in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, according to an Urban Institute study.

Using data from CMS, the analysis studied preventable hospitalization rates across 21 states and among Medicaid enrollees ages 19 to 64 for the three most common types of preventable conditions: asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and heart failure. For all three conditions, preventable hospitalization rates were significantly higher for people enrolled in Medicaid through the SSI program — meaning they have a qualifying disability — compared with those who enrolled through other pathways.