Medicaid Insurance Linked to Increased Postoperative Care Encounters for Patients on Long-Term Opioid Therapy

Patients on long-term opioid therapy with Medicaid insurance had a higher likelihood of experiencing postoperative unplanned care encounters compared to those with private insurance after abdominopelvic surgery. The study, involving 1212 patients in Michigan, found a 4.5 percentage point higher probability of such encounters among Medicaid-insured individuals within 30 days post-discharge. This suggests disparities in social determinants of health, highlighting the need for tailored postoperative care pathways for this population.