Interviews Reveal Policy Findings from Early Medicaid Expansions

Interviews Reveal Policy Findings from Early Medicaid Expansions

   November 22, 2013       SNap(R) Group

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In a new study entitled “Lessons from Early Medicaid Expansions Under Health Reform: Interviews with Medicaid Officials,” published in Volume 3, Issue 4, of Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, researchers present interviews with Medicaid officials in six states—California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington—that extended Medicaid in 2010–2011 to low-income adults targeted for coverage under health reform. The interviews reveal important policy findings. First, these changes in Medicaid built upon pre-existing state-funded health insurance programs for the poor;  second, cost and enrollment predictions were challenging, indicating the uncertainty in such projections for 2014; other lessons included a substantial need for behavioral health services in this population, and the administrative challenges of expanding coverage; and finally, the researchers learned how political context—support or opposition from stakeholders and the general public—plays a critical role in shaping the success of Medicaid expansions.

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Read the full article:

http://www.cms.gov/mmrr/Articles/A2013/MMRR2013_003_04_a02.html

Citation:

Sommers, B. D., Arntson, E., Kenney, G. M., & Epstein, A. M. (2013). Lessons from Early Medicaid Expansions Under Health Reform: Interviews with Medicaid Officials. Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, 3(4), E1–E23.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5600/mmrr.003.04.a02