Child Participation in WIC: Medicaid Costs and Use of Health Care Services
Paul A. Buescher, PhD,
Stephanie J. Horton, MS,
Barbara L. Devaney, PhD,
Sarah J. Roholt, MS, RD,
Alice J. Lenihan, RD, MPH,
J. Timothy Whitmire, PhD and
Jonathan B. Kotch, MD, MPH
Paul A. Buescher, Stephanie J. Horton, and J. Timothy Whitmire are with the State Center for Health Statistics, North Carolina Division of Public Health, Raleigh. Barbara L. Devaney is with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Princeton, NJ. Sarah J. Roholt and Alice J. Lenihan are with the Womens and Childrens Health Section, North Carolina Division of Public Health. Jonathan B. Kotch is with the Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Paul Buescher, State Center for Health Statistics, 1908 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1908 (e-mail: paul.buescher{at}ncmail.net).
Objectives. We used data from birth certificates, Medicaid,and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,and Children (WIC) to examine the relationship of child participationin WIC to Medicaid costs and use of health care services inNorth Carolina.
Methods. We linked Medicaid enrollment, Medicaid paid claims,and WIC participation files to birth certificates for childrenborn in North Carolina in 1992. We used multiple regressionanalysis to estimate the effects of WIC participation on theuse of health care services and Medicaid costs.
Results. Medicaid-enrolled children participating in the WICprogram showed greater use of all types of health care servicescompared with Medicaid-enrolled children who were not WIC participants.
Conclusions. The health care needs of low-income children whoparticipate in WIC may be better met than those of low-incomechildren not participating in WIC.
This article has been cited by other articles:
C. A. Hanks Community Empowerment: A Partnership Approach to Public Health Program Implementation
Policy Politics Nursing Practice,
November 1, 2006;
7(4):
297 - 306.
[Abstract][PDF]
J.Y. Lee, R.G. Rozier, E.C. Norton, and W.F. Vann Jr. Addressing Selection Bias in Dental Health Services Research
Journal of Dental Research,
October 1, 2005;
84(10):
942 - 946.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. F. Savage, J. Y. Lee, J. B. Kotch, and W. F. Vann Jr. Early Preventive Dental Visits: Effects on Subsequent Utilization and Costs
Pediatrics,
October 1, 2004;
114(4):
e418 - e423.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. Chatterji and J. Brooks-Gunn WIC Participation, Breastfeeding Practices, and Well-Child Care Among Unmarried, Low-Income Mothers
Am J Public Health,
August 1, 2004;
94(8):
1324 - 1327.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. M. Amen and D. F. Pacquiao Contrasting Experiences With Child Health Care Services by Mothers and Professional Caregivers in Transitional Housing
J Transcult Nurs,
July 1, 2004;
15(3):
217 - 224.
[Abstract][PDF]
M. M. Black, D. B. Cutts, D. A. Frank, J. Geppert, A. Skalicky, S. Levenson, P. H. Casey, C. Berkowitz, N. Zaldivar, J. T. Cook, et al. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Participation and Infants' Growth and Health: A Multisite Surveillance Study
Pediatrics,
July 1, 2004;
114(1):
169 - 176.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Y. Lee, R. G. Rozier, E. C. Norton, J. B. Kotch, and W. F. Vann Jr Effects of WIC Participation on Children's Use of Oral Health Services
Am J Public Health,
May 1, 2004;
94(5):
772 - 777.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]