Medicaid payer status is linked to increased rates of complications after treatment of proximal humerus fractures.

Background: Low socioeconomic status and Medicaid insurance as a primary payer have been associated with major disparities in resource utilization and risk-adjusted outcomes for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. With the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act in 2014, examination of these disparities has become increasingly relevant for the treatment of proximal humerus fracture (PHF).

Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients who were treated for PHF from 2002 to 2012. Primary outcomes included treatment type, surgical fixation method, in-hospital complications, mean length of stay, and mean total charges for Medicaid patients vs. a matched privately insured cohort. In an effort to minimize confounding variables, each Medicaid patient was matched to a privately insured patient on the basis of gender, race, year of procedure, and age.

Results: Of the 678,831 patients treated with PHF, 4.9% (33,263) had Medicaid as the primary payer during the 10-year period. Medicaid patients were found to have a significantly higher risk (P < .05) of postoperative in-hospital complications, including postoperative infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.00 [1.37-2.93]), wound complications (OR, 1.69 [1.04-2.75]), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR, 1.34 [1.15-1.59]).

Conclusions: Medicaid patients have a significantly higher risk for certain postoperative hospital complications and consume more resources after treatment for PHFs. Additional work is needed to understand the optimal treatment type for Medicaid patients and to understand the complex interplay between socioeconomic status and outcomes to ensure appropriate resource allocation and risk stratification.