ACR Convergence 2026 Sheds Light on Trends in Hospitalizations and the Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Healthcare Spending in Rheumatoid Arthritis

ORLANDO – At ACR Convergence 2026, new research explores 12-year trends in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related index hospitalizations and whether Medicaid expansion was associated with changes in state-level RA spending.

National Trends in Rheumatoid Arthritis Hospitalizations, All-Cause Readmissions and Resource Utilization in the United States: A Nationwide Readmissions Database Study, 2010-2021 (Abstract 2448295) explores trends over a 12-year scope in RA-related index hospitalizations, all-cause readmissions, length of stay (LOS), inflation-adjusted costs, discharge patterns, and comorbidity burden. The study uses the Nationwide Readmissions Database and looks at RA-related hospitalizations from 2010 through 2021. The research shows that over this 12-year timeframe, there were 86,817 weighted RA index admissions and 9,038 weighted all-cause readmissions. Weighted index admissions declined significantly by an average of 524 admissions per year (p < 0.0001). Although there were fewer admissions, the all-cause readmission rate increased from 9.8% to 13.0% (Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test, p < 0.0001).

“This study sheds light on the decline in hospitalizations among patients with rheumatoid arthritis over the years, despite an increase in readmission rates. From a comprehensive care perspective, these findings highlight the need for effective discharge planning, outpatient follow-up, and comorbidity management to improve long-term outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” explains Reethika Gongireddy, MD, Internal Medicine Chief Resident and physician at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ.

The next study, Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Healthcare Spending in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis (Abstract 2456231), evaluates shifts in state-level RA spending across payers and care settings and whether this was associated with Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). After a thorough review of the research, the findings indicate Medicaid expansion did not increase per capita spending on RA patients.

“Medicaid expansion was associated with increased Medicaid spending on rheumatoid arthritis care, particularly outpatient services and prescription medications, without a statistically significant change in overall per capita spending across all payers. These findings suggest that expansion may have changed how RA care is financed. Further research is needed to determine whether these spending changes translated into better access to care or improved patient outcomes,” states Harleen Sidhu, MBBS, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens, NY and Chief Resident at NYC Health Hospitals in Elmhurst, Queens, NY.

These multifaceted studies underscore that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to seek treatment via emergent hospital care due to the complexity of their medical condition and that the expansion of Medicaid did not increase per capita spending on RA patients. The findings suggest that over time there have been changes in coverage and utilization and even a push for RA patients to seek ongoing treatment for their condition.

These abstracts will be presented in detail at ACR Convergence 2026, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, being held November 6–11 in Orlando, Florida.

Media Contact
Teri Arnold
Director, Public Relations & Communications
757-272-7002
tarnold@rheumatology.org

###

About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

About ACR Convergence
ACR Convergence, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, is where rheumatology meets to collaborate, celebrate, congregate, and learn. With hundreds of sessions and thousands of abstracts, it offers a superior combination of basic science, clinical science, business education and interactive discussions to improve patient care and advance the specialty. For more information about the meeting, visit the ACR Convergence page, or join the conversation on X by following the official hashtag (#ACR26).