{"id":2080812,"date":"2023-10-26T23:22:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T03:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-medicaid-expansion-help-the-poor\/"},"modified":"2023-10-26T23:25:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T03:25:35","slug":"does-medicaid-expansion-help-the-poor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-medicaid-expansion-help-the-poor\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Medicaid expansion benefit the poor?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoes-medicaid-expansion-help-the-poor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2080812&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Medicaid Expansion: A Game of Politics and Health<\/h2>\n<p>In 2023, three states \u2014 North Carolina, \u2062North Dakota, and South Dakota \u2014 made a bold move by expanding\u2064 their Medicaid \u2063programs, joining the ranks of 41\u200d other states. As we approach 2024, the pressure is \u200dmounting on the \u200bremaining holdout states to follow \u2064suit. But amidst all the\u200c political maneuvering, \u2062one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-conservatives-cant-get-good-laws-how-can-they-run-an-article-v-convention\/\" title=\"If Conservatives Can\u2019t Get Good Laws, How Can They Run An Article V Convention?\">question remains unanswered<\/a>: has this expansion truly improved the health of the poor?<\/p>\n<p>Medicaid, a state and\u2063 federal program designed to provide coverage for those in \u200dpoverty, was mandated to expand under the Affordable Care Act\u2063 in 2010. This required states to extend their Medicaid programs to cover up to 138% of the federal poverty level. However, the Supreme Court later \u200bruled that while the federal government couldn&#8217;t force states to expand the program, states could still choose \u2062to opt in. In 2014, half of the states declined to expand Medicaid, but that number has gradually dwindled down to nine.<\/p>\n<h3>The Battle in\u200b Wyoming<\/h3>\n<p>Efforts to expand Medicaid continue even in states where success seems unlikely. \u2063In early 2023, the Revenue Committee in \u200cthe Wyoming House of Representatives \u200bapproved a bill for expansion, only to see it die\u2062 due to the inaction of Republican House Majority Leader Chip Neiman. This marked the ninth failure of \u200cMedicaid expansion in the Cowboy State. The closest \u2063it ever came was in 2016 when \u200dexpansion supporters attempted to attach it as \u200ca\u200b budget amendment, but it \u2063was defeated.<\/p>\n<p>Josh Hannes, vice president of \u2064the Wyoming Hospital Association, expressed his frustration, stating that conservative legislators opposing the expansion have been the main obstacle. Despite the challenges, Hannes believes that someone will introduce an expansion bill in 2024, and the association will support it.<\/p>\n<h3>The Coverage \u200dGap and\u200b Access to Care<\/h3>\n<p>States that choose not to expand Medicaid leave behind a &#8220;coverage gap&#8221; where individuals earn too much to\u2063 qualify for Medicaid but \u2063not enough\u2063 to receive tax subsidies for private \u2064coverage. Recent research from the Commonwealth Fund suggests\u200c that expanding \u2062Medicaid improves access\u200d to care for those who would otherwise fall into this gap. Sharon Glied, co-author\u200c of the research, highlights that providing health insurance leads to better access to healthcare, with Medicaid beneficiaries being more likely to have\u200b checkups \u2064and seek preventive care.<\/p>\n<p>However, access to coverage doesn&#8217;t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-medicaid-expansion-help-the-poor\/\" title=\"Does Medicaid expansion benefit the poor?\">necessarily guarantee improved health outcomes<\/a>. Nino Owcherenko Schaefer, director of \u2063the Center for Health and Welfare Policy at the Heritage Foundation, emphasizes the complexity of treating\u200d the Medicaid population. One issue is the reluctance of many physicians to see Medicaid patients or\u200b take on new ones. A survey conducted in 2019 found \u200bthat\u2064 primary\u200d care doctors in expansion states were no more likely to\u200b see Medicaid patients than before\u200d the expansion.<\/p>\n<h3>The Oregon Experiment and the Debate<\/h3>\n<p>In 2013, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a Medicaid experiment in Oregon. The study compared the health outcomes of those admitted to the \u2064Medicaid\u200c program through a lottery with those who were not. Surprisingly, the study found that Medicaid coverage\u200b only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-pharma-funded-researchers-churn-out-biased-studies-promoting-gender-transitions-for-children\/\" title=\"Big Pharma Funded Researchers Churn Out Biased Studies Promoting Gender Transitions for Children\">improved mental health outcomes<\/a>, with no significant benefits for common health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these findings, Glied argues that states should\u2063 still expand Medicaid as it\u200c provides protection from high medical bills. \u200bHowever, Owcherenko Schaefer warns that expanding Medicaid can divert funds from other healthcare\u200b priorities, particularly among children in the traditional Medicaid population.<\/p>\n<p>As the debate rages on, \u2063the future of Medicaid expansion\u2062 remains uncertain. Will more states join \u2063the movement, or will they continue to resist the pressure? Only time will tell.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the consequences of the coverage gap\u200c in private insurance \u200dfor low-income individuals?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200c T enough to afford private insurance.\u2062 This gap creates a significant barrier to healthcare access for millions of low-income \u2063individuals. According to\u200b a report \u2063by\u2063 the Kaiser Family Foundation, as of 2021, approximately 2.2 million uninsured adults fall \u200dinto this\u200c coverage gap. <\/p>\n<p>The consequences of the coverage gap\u200b are severe. Those who are \u2063unable to afford health insurance often delay or forego necessary medical care, leading \u200dto worsened\u200b health outcomes and increased healthcare costs\u200c in \u2063the\u200c long run. Additionally, the burden of uncompensated care \u2062falls on hospitals\u2062 and healthcare providers, putting \u2063a strain on their resources and potentially leading to a\u200d reduction in services, especially in rural areas with fewer healthcare \u2062facilities.<\/p>\n<h3>The\u2063 Benefits of Medicaid Expansion<\/h3>\n<p>Numerous studies have shown the positive impact of Medicaid expansion\u2062 on both the \u200bhealth of individuals and the overall healthcare system. Research conducted by\u200c the National Bureau of\u200d Economic Research found that states that expanded\u2064 Medicaid experienced a decrease in mortality rates and an improvement in self-reported health \u2063among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-extends-state-funded-medicare-to-residents-over-age-50-regardless-of-immigration-status\/\" title=\"Calif. extends state-funded Medicare to residents over age 50 regardless of immigration status\">low-income adults<\/a>.\u2064 Another \u200bstudy published in the\u2064 New\u200b England Journal of Medicine showed that\u2063 expansion states had significantly higher rates of insurance coverage, lower rates of cost-related\u2063 access problems, and \u2062higher rates of regular healthcare utilization\u200d compared to non-expansion states.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Medicaid expansion has proven to be an \u2063economic boon for states. By expanding Medicaid, states can draw down federal funding, which helps \u200cstimulate their \u200beconomies and create jobs in\u2063 the healthcare \u2064sector.\u200b According to a report by\u2063 Families USA, Medicaid expansion \u200ccould create 157,000 jobs across \u200dall states by\u2064 2023.<\/p>\n<h3>The Political Divisions<\/h3>\n<p>The decision of whether \u2062to\u200d expand\u200d Medicaid has become a highly politicized\u200b issue. The debate often revolves around ideological\u200d differences and concerns about the costs and sustainability of the program. \u2063Opponents argue that \u200dMedicaid expansion will lead to increased taxes\u200d and\u2064 a heavy financial burden\u2064 on the states in the long term. They also express \u200dconcerns \u2064about \u200bthe potential for fraud and abuse within the program.<\/p>\n<p>Proponents, on \u200cthe other hand, emphasize the importance of providing\u200d healthcare to the most vulnerable \u2062populations. They argue that the federal \u200dgovernment\u200b covers the majority of\u2063 the expansion costs initially,\u2062 with \u200bstates gradually taking on a \u200csmall\u200c percentage in the future. They also \u200chighlight the\u200d positive impact of expansion on the overall population&#8217;s health and the economy.<\/p>\n<h3>Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n<p>As we move forward, it\u200d is crucial to recognize that Medicaid expansion is not simply a game of \u2062politics \u2062but\u200c a matter of improving the health \u200dand well-being of millions of Americans. The experiences of \u2062states that\u200b have expanded Medicaid demonstrate its\u2063 effectiveness in reducing the coverage \u200cgap, improving access to care, \u2062and enhancing health outcomes for low-income individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is vital\u2064 for policymakers to consider the evidence\u2063 and\u2062 prioritize the health of their constituents. Medicaid expansion has proven to be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deal-with-the-devil-apple-signed-275-billion-contract-with-china-to-avoid-crackdown\/\" title=\"Deal with the Devil: Apple Signed 5 Billion Contract with China to Avoid Crackdown\">win-win situation<\/a>, benefiting both \u200cindividuals and \u2062the healthcare system as a whole. With the pressure building on\u200c the remaining\u2062 holdout states, the time has come for a \u200cdecisive\u2064 move towards \u200bexpansion, ensuring \u200cthat\u2064 no one is left behind in their pursuit\u200d of health and well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2023, North Carolina, North Dakota, and South Dakota expanded Medicaid, making it 41 states in total. As 2024 approaches, pressure mounts on other states to do the same. However, the impact of this expansion on the health of the poor remains uncertain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2080813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2080812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2080812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2080813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2080812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2080812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2080812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}