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Objective: Optimal post-acute care is associated with improved stroke outcomes. Among working age stroke patients discharged to institutional post-acute care, those with Medicaid are less likely to be discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) than those with private insurance, a finding which may be influenced by state Medicaid coverage. We hypothesized that stroke patients residing in states where Medicaid does not cover IRFs would be less likely to be discharged to an IRF than patients residing in states where Medicaid covers IRFs.

Methods: Working age ischemic stroke patients with Medicaid were identified from the 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) using ICD-9 CM codes 433.x1, 434.x1 and 436. Medicaid coverage of IRFs (yes versus no) was ascertained for 45 states with NIS data by review of state Medicaid websites. The primary outcome was discharge to IRF (versus other discharge …