Impact of the Affordable Care Act on elective general surgery clinical practice

Background: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically changed the healthcare system in the United States. This study aims to analyze the impact of the ACA on general surgery clinic visits and resultant procedures. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on new patients who presented to the elective general surgery clinic at an academic medical center between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2015. Based on the open enrollment start date of Jan.1, 2014 patients were divided into pre-ACA and post-ACA periods. Data on demographics, type of insurance, missed appointments, and elective surgical procedures performed were collected. Results: Medi-Cal insurance coverage increased post-ACA from 20.9% to 56.7%, p < 0.001; self-pay status went from 9.8% to 0%. There were 296 (35.4%) surgical procedures performed pre-ACA and 347 (37.1%) post-ACA (p = 0.445). Missed clinic visits decreased after implementation of the ACA, with 26.8% no-shows pre-ACA and 20.7% no-shows post-ACA (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The ACA had a profound impact on the general surgery clinic with fewer uninsured patients, fewer no-shows and a modest increase in the number of procedures performed. In 2014 the Affordable Care Act mandate was implemented. This legislation impacted healthcare by significantly decreasing the number of uninsured patients and increasing overall volume in one general surgery clinic.