To understand the effects of reduced Medicaid retroactive eligibility on financial burdens and access to care for patients with newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer.
Key Findings:
22,342 patients identified, with 1,553 (6.9%) meeting retroactive eligibility criteria, highlighting a significant portion of patients affected.
Mean charges during the first 90 days of enrollment were $140,712, with Medicaid covering $20,867, indicating substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
Traditional enrollees could face additional costs of $9,766 to $72,559; expansion enrollees $16,472 to $114,885 under the OBBBA, underscoring the financial burden.
Interpretation:
Reducing retroactive eligibility may significantly burden low-income cancer patients with unexpected medical expenses, increasing financial toxicity and jeopardizing access to necessary care.
Limitations:
Potential misclassification of patients due to lack of application date in Medicaid data, which could lead to underestimating the number of affected individuals.
Findings may not be generalizable to states with different retroactive coverage policies.
Conclusion:
Changes in Medicaid retroactive eligibility could adversely affect low-income cancer patients, necessitating awareness and timely enrollment to mitigate financial risks.
