The impact of ACA Medicaid expansion on socioeconomic inequality in health care services utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We examined whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion reduced socioeconomic inequalities in health care utilization.

Methods

We used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, covering the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, between 2011 and 2016. We selected outcome indicators, viz. ability to afford needed health care, having a personal doctor, use of health services in the past year (routine check-up, flu shot and dental visits), and attending screenings for breast, cervical, and colon cancers. Socioeconomic status was measured by household income. We calculated two indices of inequality by household income for each outcome: Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). We estimated difference-in-d

SUBMITTER: Kino S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6312270 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature