Health Service Utilization Patterns Among Medicaid Enrollees With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Pandemic Response and Recovery Efforts.

Objectives: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on health service utilization of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) through an analysis of Medicaid claims data.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of Medicaid claims.

Setting and participants: Medicaid members aged 25 to 64 years from January 1, 2018, to March 31, 2021, from the states of Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.

Intervention: We analyzed data from two 12-month time periods (pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19) and assessed the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilization and service intensity for 3 cohorts: (1) IDD with preexisting mental health diagnoses, (2) IDD without mental health diagnoses, and (3) all other Medicaid members.

Main outcome measure: Health service utilization determined by specific claims data classifications.

Results: The analysis showed reduced utilization for nonmental health service types with differing utilization patterns for IDD with preexisting mental health diagnoses, IDD without mental health diagnoses, and all other Medicaid members. Change in utilization varied, however, for mental health service types. Measures of service intensity showed decreased numbers of members utilizing services across most service types and increased Medicaid claims per person across most mental health service categories but decreased Medicaid claims per person for most nonmental health services.

Conclusions: Results suggest a need for mental health services among all Medicaid members during the COVID-19 pandemic. By anticipating these needs, communities may be able to expand outreach to Medicaid members through enhanced case management, medication checks, and telemedicine options.