The impact of the affordable care act (ACA) Medicaid Expansion on access to minimally invasive surgical care.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the effect of the ACA Medicaid expansion on the utilization of minimally invasive (MIS) approaches to common general surgical procedures.

METHODS: We queried five Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases to evaluate rates of utilization and costs of MIS and open approaches pre and post Medicaid expansion.

RESULTS: 117,241 patients met the inclusion criteria. Following the enactment of the ACA, use of both laparoscopic gastric bypass (IRR 1.08; 95% CI: [1.02, 1.15]) and Nissen fundoplication (IRR 1.17; 95% CI [1.09, 1.26]) increased in Medicaid patients treated in expansion states than in those treated in non-expansion states. Simultaneously, the costs reported for self-pay patients increased in expansion states more than in non-expansion states (+$1669; 95% CI [$655, $2682]).

CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid expansion was associated with increased rates of utilization of MIS approaches to several surgical procedures and a shifting of costs toward patients who were self-insured.