The effects of expanding public insurance to rural low-income childless adults.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study measures the change in health care use after enrollment into a new public insurance program for low-income childless adults.

Data sources/study setting

The data sources include claims from a large integrated health system in rural Wisconsin and Medicaid enrollment files, January 2007-September 2012.

Study design

We employ a regression discontinuity design to measure the causal effect of public insurance enrollment on counts of outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient events for 2 years following enrollment for a sample of previously uninsured low-income adults in rural Wisconsin.

Principal findings

Public insurance enrollment led to substantial increases in outpatient visits including preventive visits, but not mental health visits.

SUBMITTER: Burns ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4241153 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature