Project description:ObjectiveTo determine the association between Medicaid expansion and infant mortality rate (IMR) in the United States.Data sourcesState-level aggregate data on US IMR, race, and sex were abstracted from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research.Study designThe association between Medicaid expansion and IMR adjusted for race and sex was assessed with multiple linear regression models using difference-in-differences estimation and Huber-White robust standard errors.Principal findingsDifference-in-differences regression found no association between Medicaid expansion status and change in national IMR from 2010 to 2017 (Coef. = 0.04; 95% CI: -0.39, 0.46). However, among Hispanics, the program was found to be associated with reduction in IMR (Diff-in-Diff Coef. = -0.53; 95% CI: -1.02, -0.03).ConclusionsOverall, the Affordable Care Act-induced Medicaid expansion was not associated with IMR reduction in expansion states relative to nonexpansion states. However, the program was associated with a significant IMR decline among Hispanics.
Project description:BackgroundDiscontinuous Medicaid insurance erodes access to care, increases administrative costs, and exposes enrollees to substantial out-of-pocket spending.ObjectiveTo assess the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on continuity of Medicaid coverage among those enrolled prior to expansion.DesignUsing a difference-in-differences framework, we compared Colorado, a state that expanded Medicaid, to Utah, a nonexpansion state, before and after Medicaid expansion implementation.ParticipantsAdults ages 18-62 who were enrolled in Medicaid coverage in Colorado and Utah prior to expansion, from the Utah and Colorado All Payer Claims Databases, 2013-2015.Main measuresThe primary outcomes were the duration of Medicaid enrollment and rates of disrupted coverage.Key resultsFollowing Medicaid expansion, enrollees in Colorado gained an additional 2 months of coverage over two years of follow-up and were 16 percentage points less likely to experience a coverage disruption in a given year relative to enrollees in Utah.ConclusionsIncreasing Medicaid eligibility levels under the Affordable Care Act appears to be an effective strategy to reduce churning in the Medicaid program, with important implications for other states that are considering Medicaid expansion.
Project description:ObjectiveDiabetes is a chronic health condition contributing to a substantial burden of disease. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 10.9 million people were newly insured by Medicaid between 2013 and 2016. Considering this coverage expansion, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could significantly affect people with diabetes in their management of the disease. This study evaluates the impact of the Medicaid expansion under the ACA on diabetes management.Research design and methodsThis study includes 22,335 individuals with diagnosed diabetes from the 2011 to 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. It uses a difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the impact of the Medicaid expansion on self-reported access to health care, self-reported diabetes management, and self-reported health status. Additionally, it performs a triple-differences analysis to compare the impact between Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states considering diabetes rates of the states.ResultsSignificant improvements in Medicaid expansion states as compared with non-Medicaid expansion states were evident in self-reported access to health care (0.09 score; P = 0.023), diabetes management (1.91 score; P = 0.001), and health status (0.10 score; P = 0.026). Among states with large populations with diabetes, states that expanded Medicaid reported substantial improvements in these areas in comparison with those that did not expand.ConclusionsThe Medicaid expansion has significant positive effects on self-reported diabetes management. While states with large diabetes populations that expanded Medicaid have experienced substantial improvements in self-reported diabetes management, non-Medicaid expansion states with high diabetes rates may be facing health inequalities. The findings provide policy implications for the diabetes care community and policy makers.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Thirty-one states approved Medicaid expansion after implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Medicaid expansion on cardiac surgery volume and outcomes comparing one state that expanded to one that did not. METHODS:Data from the Virginia (nonexpansion state) Cardiac Services Quality Initiative and the Michigan (expanded Medicaid, April 2014) Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative were analyzed to identify uninsured and Medicaid patients undergoing coronary bypass graft or valve operations, or both. Demographics, operative details, predicted risk scores, and morbidity and mortality rates, stratified by state and compared across era (preexpansion: 18 months before vs postexpansion: 18 months after), were analyzed. RESULTS:In Virginia, there were no differences in volume between eras, whereas in Michigan, there was a significant increase in Medicaid volume (54.4% [558 of 1,026] vs 84.1% [954 of 1,135], p < 0.001) and a corresponding decrease in uninsured volume. In Virginia Medicaid patients, there were no differences in predicted risk of morbidity or mortality or postoperative major morbidities. In Michigan Medicaid patients, a significant decrease in predicted risk of morbidity or mortality (11.9% [8.1% to 20.0%] vs 11.1% [7.7% to 17.9%], p = 0.02) and morbidities (18.3% [102 of 558] vs 13.2% [126 of 954], p = 0.008) was identified. Postexpansion was associated with a decreased risk-adjusted rate of major morbidity (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.91; p = 0.01) in Michigan Medicaid patients. CONCLUSIONS:Medicaid expansion was associated with fewer uninsured cardiac surgery patients and improved predicted risk scores and morbidity rates. In addition to improving health care financing, Medicaid expansion may positively affect patient care and outcomes.
Project description:Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy has increased dramatically over the past decade, as have associated adverse maternal health outcomes. Although Medicaid has long been the largest payer for deliveries in the United States, states' decisions to expand Medicaid eligibility to low-income adults has the potential to increase access to care for women in the postpartum period. This study aimed to determine the impact of the 2015 Pennsylvania Medicaid expansion on postpartum insurance coverage and preventive care utilization among pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Methods: In 2017, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using 2013-2015 administrative Medicaid data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. We identified 1562 women with opioid use disorder who had a live birth delivery in a pre-Medicaid expansion or post-expansion study period. We compared length of continuous enrollment in Medicaid following delivery, postpartum visit attendance, and contraception initiation between groups. Results: More women in the post-expansion group remained enrolled in Medicaid at 300 days postpartum, relative to the pre-expansion group (87% vs. 81%). Medicaid expansion was not associated with differences in postpartum visit attendance or contraceptive use. However, women who remained enrolled in Medicaid for at least 300 days post delivery had an increased odds of postpartum visit attendance (odds ratio [OR]: 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 2.4). Conclusion: The rate of continuous Medicaid enrollment among postpartum women with OUD was significantly higher after expansion, whereas rates of preventive care utilization were unaffected. Although improving insurance coverage for women with OUD is an important step to improve access to recommended preventive care, additional efforts are needed to ensure utilization of such care.
Project description:ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the trends in cancer (CA) admissions and surgeries after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion.MethodsThis is a retrospective study using HCUP-SID analyzing inpatient CA (pancreas, esophagus, lung, bladder, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric) admissions and surgeries pre- (2010-2013) and post- (2014) Medicaid expansion. Surgery was defined as observed resection rate per 100 cancer admissions. Nonexpansion (FL) and expansion states (IA, MD, and NY) were compared. A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution and logistic regression was used with incidence rate ratios (IRR) and difference-in-differences (DID).ResultsThere were 317, 858 patients in our sample which included those with private insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance. Pancreas, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric CA admissions significantly increased in expansion states but decreased in nonexpansion states. (IRR 1.12, 1.14, 1.11, 1.34, 1.23; P < .05) Lung and colorectal CA surgeries (IRR 1.30, 1.25; P < .05) increased, while breast CA surgeries (IRR 1.25; P < .05) decreased less in expansion states. Government subsidized, or self-pay patients had greater odds of undergoing lung, bladder, and colorectal CA surgery (OR 0.45 vs 0.33; 0.60 vs 0.48; 0.47 vs 0.39; P < .05) in expansion states after reform.ConclusionsIn states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA, the rate of surgeries for colorectal and lung CA increased significantly, while breast CA surgeries decreased less. Parenthetically, these cancers are subject to population screening programs. We conclude that expanding insurance coverage results in enhanced access to cancer surgery.
Project description:ImportanceAccess to postpartum care is restricted for low-income women who are recent or undocumented immigrants enrolled in Emergency Medicaid.ObjectiveTo examine the association of a policy extending postpartum coverage to Emergency Medicaid recipients with attendance at postpartum visits and use of postpartum contraception.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study linked Medicaid claims and birth certificate data from 2010 to 2019 to examine changes in postpartum care coverage on postpartum care and contraception use. A difference-in-difference design was used to compare the rollout of postpartum coverage in Oregon with a comparison state, South Carolina, which did not cover postpartum care. The study used 2 distinct assumptions to conduct the analyses: first, preintervention differences in postpartum visit attendance and contraceptive use would have remained constant if the policy expanding coverage had not been passed (parallel trends assumption), and second, differences in preintervention trends would have continued without the policy change (differential trend assumption). Data analysis was performed from September 2020 to October 2021.ExposuresMedicaid coverage of postpartum care.Main outcomes and measuresAttendance at postpartum visits and postpartum contraceptive use, defined as receipt of any contraceptive method within 60 days of delivery.ResultsThe study population consisted of 27 667 live births among 23 971 women (mean [SD] age, 29.4 [6.0] years) enrolled in Emergency Medicaid. The majority of all births were to multiparous women (21 289 women [76.9%]; standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.08) and were delivered vaginally (20 042 births [72.4%]; SMD = 0.03) and at term (25 502 births [92.2%]; SMD = 0.01). Following Oregon's expansion of postpartum coverage to women in Emergency Medicaid, there was a large and significant increase in postpartum care visits and contraceptive use. Assuming parallel trends, postpartum care attendance increased by 40.6 percentage points (95% CI, 34.1-47.1 percentage points; P < .001) following the policy change. Under the differential trends assumption, postpartum visits increased by 47.9 percentage points (95% CI, 41.3-54.6 percentage points; P < .001). Postpartum contraception use increased similarly. Under the parallel trends assumption, postpartum contraception within 60 days increased by 33.2 percentage points (95% CI, 31.1-35.4 percentage points; P < .001). Assuming differential trends, postpartum contraception increased by 28.2 percentage points (95% CI, 25.8-30.6 percentage points; P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceThese findings suggest that expanding Emergency Medicaid benefits to include postpartum care is associated with significant improvements in receipt of postpartum care and contraceptive use.
Project description:IntroductionPreconception and interconception health care are critical means of identifying, managing, and treating risk factors originating before pregnancy that can harm fetal development and maternal health. However, many women in the U.S. lack health insurance, limiting their ability to access such care. State-level variation in Medicaid eligibility, particularly before and after the 2014 Medicaid expansions, offers a unique opportunity to test the hypothesis that increasing healthcare coverage for low-income women can improve preconception and interconception healthcare access and utilization, chronic disease management, overall health, and health behaviors.MethodsIn 2018-2019, data on 58,365 low-income women aged 18-44 years from the 2011-2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed, and a difference-in-difference analysis was used to examine the impact of Medicaid expansions on preconception health.ResultsExpanded Medicaid eligibility was associated with increased healthcare coverage and utilization, better self-rated health, and decreases in avoidance of care because of cost, heavy drinking, and binge drinking. Medicaid eligibility did not impact diagnoses of chronic conditions, smoking cessation, or BMI. Medicaid eligibility was associated with greater gains in health insurance, utilization, and health among married (vs unmarried) women. Conversely, women with any (vs no) dependent children experienced smaller gains in insurance following the Medicaid expansion, but greater take-up of insurance when eligibility increased and larger behavioral responses to gaining insurance.ConclusionsExpanded Medicaid coverage may improve access to and utilization of health care among women of reproductive age, which could ultimately improve preconception health.
Project description:IntroductionThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded the coverage of Medicaid to include entire population with income below 138% of federal poverty line. It remains unclear whether this policy change has improved access to and utilization of health care, particularly use of mammography and Pap tests among poor women.MethodsWe used a difference-in-difference (DID) design to estimate the impact of Medicaid expansion on mammography and Pap tests utilization among low-income women. Expansion states are the treatment group and non-expansion states are the control group. The years 2012-13 are the pre-expansion period and 2015-16 are the post-expansion period for the purpose of estimating the DID parameters.ResultsThe difference-in-difference estimate show that likelihood of utilizing mammograms did not change significantly among low-income women after the implementation of Medicaid expansion (DID coefficient -0.0476 with t-statistics at -1.26), Pap test decreased (coefficient -0.0615, t-statistics -2.76), and Medicaid enrollment has increased significantly among low-income women living in expansion states (coefficient 0.0889 with t-value of 3.68).ConclusionExpansion of Medicaid was associated with increased Medicaid enrollment but did not yield near-term improvement in use of mammography and Pap tests among low-income women. Factors beyond health insurance coverage may be important in determining the likelihood of obtaining these screenings. Policy makers should try to identify other barriers to cancer screenings among low-income women in the USA.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To assess the effect of the 2014 Medicaid expansion on Medicaid managed care plan quality. DATA SOURCES:Three composite measures of plan-level quality constructed from the Health Care Effectiveness Data and Information Set. STUDY SETTING:One hundred and sixty-three plans in 27 Medicaid expansion states and 100 plans in 14 nonexpansion states. STUDY DESIGN:Quasi-experimental difference-in-differences (DID) analysis, comparing quality before (2011-13) and after (2014-15) Medicaid expansion in states that elected to expand Medicaid eligibility and those that did not. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Mean plan enrollment increased from 130,533 to 274,259 in expansion states and from 105,449 to 148,194 in nonexpansion states. The proportion of enrollees receiving recommended preventive care increased from 62.6 to 65.2 percent in expansion states and from 59.3 to 62.5 percent in nonexpansion states (adjusted DID: -0.7 percentage points [95% CI -2.2, 0.7]). The proportion of enrollees receiving recommended chronic disease care management increased from 65.4 to 66.0 percent in expansion states and from 62.5 to 63.1 percent in nonexpansion states (adjusted DID: 1.1 percentage points [95% CI -0.5, 2.6]). We observed similar patterns for the receipt of recommended maternity care. CONCLUSIONS:Medicaid expansion increased enrollment in managed care plans, but it did not result in erosion of quality.