Longitudinal trends in enrollees’ employment and student status after Medicaid expansion

BMC Health Services Research

Monita Karmakar¹  Jamie E. Luster¹  Minal R. Patel²  John Z. Ayanian²  Matthias A. Kirch²  Edith C. Kieffer²  Susan D. Goold²  Renuka Tipirneni² 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan;University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation;

关键词: Medicaid;    Employment;    Health reform;    Health policy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-022-07599-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Medicaid community engagement requirements previously received federal approval in 12 states, despite limited data on their impact on enrollees’ employment-related activities. Our objective was to assess longitudinal changes in enrollees’ employment and student status after implementation of Michigan’s Medicaid expansion. Methods Longitudinal telephone survey of Michigan Medicaid expansion enrollees in 2016 (response rate [RR] = 53.7%), 2017 (RR = 83.4%), and 2018 (N = 2,608, RR = 89.4%) serially assessing self-reported employment or student status. Survey responses were benchmarked against statewide changes in assessed similar low-income adults in the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey. We used mixed models with individual random effects to assess changes in the proportion of enrollees who were employed or students by year. Results Most respondents had incomes < 100% FPL (61.7% with 0–35% of the federal poverty level [FPL], 22.9% with 36–99% FPL, and 15.4% with 100–133% FPL), 89.3% had at least a high school diploma/equivalent, and they ranged in age (39.6% age 19–34, 34.5% age 35–50, 25.9% age 51–64). Employment or student status increased significantly among Michigan Medicaid expansion respondents, from 54.5% in 2016 to 61.4% in 2018 (P < 0.001), including among those with a chronic condition (47.8% to 53.8%, P < 0.001) or mental health/substance use disorder (48.5% to 56.0%, P < 0.001). In contrast, the statewide proportion of low-income non-elderly adults who were employed or students did not change significantly (from 42.7% in 2016 to 46.0% in 2018, P = 0.57). Conclusions Medicaid expansion, absent a community engagement requirement, was associated with increased employment and related activities. The role of Medicaid in providing safety-net coverage to individuals during times of economic stress is likely to grow.

【 授权许可】

Unknown