Access to Orthopedic Care post Medicaid Expansion Through the Affordable Care Act.

Background: As of January 2017, 32 states have decided to expand Medicaid through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The uninsured rate in the United States has decreased, but does the increased coverage translate to increased access to outpatient orthopedic care? Through a simulated patient telephone survey, this study aims to evaluate access to orthopedic surgeons for Medicaid patients in Louisiana.

Methods: A comprehensive list of potentially eligible orthopedic surgeons in the state of Louisiana was obtained from an online public database managed by the Louisiana Medicaid website (lamedicaid.