Utilization and expenditures under Medicaid for Supplemental Security Income disabled

Recently available data on major disabling conditions of the Supplemental Security Income disabled are used to examine 1984 patterns of Medicaid expenditures in California, Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee. Results indicate that 37-58 percent of these expenditures are for enrollees whose major disabling condition involves mental retardation or other mental disorders. This pattern occurs because a high proportion of disabled enrollees have these conditions, rather than high expenses per enrollee. Annual Medicaid expenditures per enrollee were highest for the disabled with neoplasms, blood disorders, and genitourinary conditions. Expenditures per enrollee were higher for younger enrollees and lower for those dually enrolled in Medicare.