Effects of Permanent Supportive Housing on Health Care Utilization and Spending Among New Jersey Medicaid Enrollees Experiencing Homelessness.

BACKGROUND

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs have the potential to improve health and reduce Medicaid expenditures for beneficiaries experiencing homelessness. However, most research on PSH has been limited to small samples of narrowly defined populations.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of PSH on Medicaid enrollees across New Jersey.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Linked data from the Medicaid Management Information System and the Homeless Management Information System were used to compare PSH-placed Medicaid enrollees with a matched sample of other Medicaid enrollees experiencing homelessness. Comparisons of Medicaid-financed health care utilization and spending measures were made in a difference-in-differences framework 6 quarters before and after PSH placement.

SUBJECTS

A total of 1442 Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in PSH and 6064 Medicaid-enrolled homeless individuals not in PSH in 2013-2014.

RESULTS

PSH placement is associated with a 14.3% reduction in emergency department visits (P<0.001) and a 25.2% reduction in associated spending (P<0.001). PSH also appears to reduce inpatient utilization and increase pharmacy spending with neutral effects on primary care visits and total costs of care (TCOC).

CONCLUSIONS

Placement in PSH is associated with lower hospital utilization and spending. No relationship was found, however, between PSH placement and TCOC, likely due to increased pharmacy spending in the PSH group. Greater access to prescription drugs may have improved the health of PSH-placed individuals in a way that reduced hospital episodes with neutral effects on TCOC.