Assessing multiple hospitalizations for health-plan-managed Medicaid diabetic members

This study is a retrospective analysis of medical claims of individuals with diabetes enrolled in managed Medicaid as well as a diabetes management program. The sample consists of 695 individuals who had at least two hospitalizations in one calendar year. This study had two related aims. The first was to examine factors associated with an increased risk of repeat hospitalizations. The second was to determine an appropriate alternative to rehospitalization. Using negative binominal regression, we find that members most likely to be rehospitalized have congestive heart failure or psychosis. We suggest that rehospitalizations in this population may be mitigated by providing home healthcare.