Study Finds No Treatment Disparities in MS Care Between Medicaid and Private Insurance
A study from the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center suggests that Medicaid recipients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receive similar treatment strategies as those with private insurance, challenging concerns about disparities in access to high-efficacy disease-modifying drugs (DMDs).
Medicaid is designed to improve health equity by providing coverage for low-income individuals. However, it has been unclear whether newly diagnosed patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have Medicaid receive different treatment approaches compared to those with private insurance. With more than 20 DMDs available for RRMS, treatment strategies typically follow two paths: an "escalation" approach, starting with lower-efficacy drugs and intensifying as needed, or early highly effective treatment (EHT), which begins with high-efficacy drugs that offer better disease control but carry greater risk of side effects.
The study included 425 individuals diagnosed with RRMS in Ohio since 2019, all of whom were treatment-naïve at their first visit. Of these, 26% had Medicaid, and 74% had private insurance. Researchers found that while Medicaid recipients were more likely to be female or identify as Black, there was no significant difference in the likelihood of receiving EHT vs an escalation approach. Among Medicaid patients, 74% started on an EHT strategy compared to 77% of those with private insurance. Additionally, the median time from MS diagnosis to treatment initiation was similar between both groups.
These findings suggest that Medicaid is successfully facilitating equitable access to high-efficacy MS treatments. The study underscores the program’s role in ensuring that individuals with lower incomes receive timely and effective disease management, reinforcing Medicaid’s function in reducing health disparities.
Reference
O’Mahony J. Medicaid Coverage does not Associate with Treatment Approach for MS. Presented at: 2025 ACTRIMS Forum; February 27-March 1; West Palm, Beach, FL; Abstract V179.
