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Therapy Use for Children With Developmental Conditions: Analysis of Colorado Medicaid Data

Beth M McManus1, Mary Jane Rapport, Zachary Richardson

  • 1Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy (Drs McManus and Lindrooth and Mr Richardson), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Drs McManus and Rapport), University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|June 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Medicaid therapy use and spending are higher for infants and toddlers with developmental delays (DD) and multiple chronic conditions (CCCs). These children receive more specialized physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Health Services Research
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Medicaid beneficiaries include a significant population of infants and toddlers with developmental conditions.
  • Understanding therapy utilization and associated costs is crucial for resource allocation and care management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the patterns of physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) use.
  • To analyze Medicaid spending on PT/OT for young children with developmental conditions.
  • To identify factors influencing therapy use and costs, such as comorbid chronic conditions (CCCs) and developmental delays (DD).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Colorado Children's Medicaid administrative outpatient therapy claims from 2006-2008.
  • Inclusion of infants and toddlers diagnosed with developmental conditions or delays.
  • Estimation of differences in PT/OT use and spending based on condition type and number of CCCs.

Main Results:

  • The study included 20,959 children.
  • Children with at least two CCCs showed higher odds of receiving PT/OT.
  • Children with DD had significantly higher odds (12-fold) of receiving PT/OT compared to those with a specific diagnosis.
  • Highest PT/OT spending was observed in children with DD and two CCCs.

Conclusions:

  • Medicaid PT/OT utilization and expenditure are elevated for children with more CCCs and developmental delays.
  • Children with DD receive more specialized PT/OT services, contributing to higher overall use and spending.
Abstract

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