JSIT21-05: Medicaid Receipt and Health Outcomes in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease Living in Poverty

Youth diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. The receipt of Medicaid among youth diagnosed with a chronic illness is associated with favoring outcomes, such as increased well-child visits and decreased emergency room (ER) and inpatient visits; however, the relationship between Medicaid receipt and health outcomes among children and adolescents diagnosed with SCD is not well understood. While vulnerable populations relying on the receipt of Medicaid receive access to healthcare services, there is variability amongst research studies examining Medicaid receipt and health outcomes among beneficiaries. Therefore, this preliminary research study investigates whether the receipt of Medicaid is linked with disease severity (e.g., frequency of pain crises and disease-related symptoms) among youth diagnosed with SCD. A total of 150 patient-parent dyads were enrolled in this cross-sectional quantitative study. Parents of pediatric patients completed a demographic information questionnaire, which gathered Medicaid status and the frequency the patient experienced pain along with other disease-related symptoms. A linear regression model showed Medicaid receipt was associated with both a higher frequency of pain and disease-related symptoms. Findings highlight the complexities that encompass Medicaid research involving youth with chronic illness and provide implications for future research.