Gaining Medicaid Coverage During ACA Implementation: Effects on Access to Care and Preventive Services

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Medicaid expansion is a key policy debate.
• Evaluating its impact on preventive care access is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of Medicaid on preventive care access for low-income adults.
• To analyze changes in healthcare utilization post-Medicaid enrollment.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of 2013-2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.
• Difference-in-differences approach comparing Medicaid recipients to uninsured individuals.
• Focus on low-income, non-pregnant, non-disabled adults aged 18-64.

Main Results:

• Medicaid increased usual source of care by 13%.
• Significant increases observed in office visits (14%), annual checkups (11%), cholesterol (29%), and blood pressure tests (13%).
• Flu vaccine uptake showed a non-significant increase of 8%.

Conclusions:

• Medicaid coverage enhances the utilization of evidence-based preventive services.
• Positive impact observed at a national level for uninsured, low-income adults.
• Policy implications for expanding access to care and improving health outcomes.