The KFF summarizes recent research showing that Medicaid expansion benefits hospital and health care provider finances, reducing the proportion of uninsured patients, increasing Medicaid coverage and reducing uncovered care. I know what I did.
By funding coverage for low-income people who are likely uninsured, Medicaid expansion provides potential economic benefits to health care providers who care for that population. Research shows that hospitals experienced more reimbursement and reduced uncompensated medical costs. Research has shown that other providers, such as federally accredited health centers and community health centers, saw increased revenue after expansion.
Some studies have found that these economic effects vary by provider type. For example, several studies found that improvements in financial performance were stronger (or only observed among) smaller rural hospitals, despite a reduction in uncompensated health care costs. understood. A small number of studies suggest that improvements in payer mix and uncompensated health care costs at hospitals may be partially offset by increased unreimbursed Medicaid care and lower commercial revenues.
The new KFF analysis is the latest in an ongoing effort to document what research shows about the impact of Medicaid expansion, with Medicaid expansion published between April 2021 and December 2022. It summarizes 24 studies of the economic impact on health care providers of Recent findings are consistent with previous studies in this area.
The findings are particularly relevant given the financial stress experienced by Medicaid providers during the coronavirus pandemic, including recent challenges for hospitals as federal relief funds expire. , provides background to the ongoing policy debate over whether to expand Medicaid in states that have not yet expanded Medicaid. State costs also remain an important issue in the expansion debate.
Thirty-nine states and Washington, DC have adopted Medicaid expansion under the ACA, with the federal government covering 90% of the cost and the state covering 10%, but 11 states have not.
Previous KFF reports published in 2020 and 2021 reviewed more than 600 studies and found that expansion was associated with improved coverage, improved access and health, and economic benefits for states and providers. It was concluded.
