Dr. Rebecca Boehm, University of Connecticut
Seminar Title: “Impact of U.S. Health Care Provision Changes on Diet Quality among Low-Income Households”
Abstract:
The expansion of health care in the U.S., following the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, represents a major change to health care provision for low-income households. Under ACA, Medicaid was significantly expanded so that any parent and childless adult below approximately 138% of the FPL could sign up for the program. To date, 33 states and the District of Columbia have expanded their Medicaid programs under the ACA and expansion states enrollment began January 1, 2014. Not all states expanded the program under ACA due to a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to opt out of offering mandatory Medicaid coverage to all individuals below 138% of FPL. Since the passage of the Medicaid expansion research comparing expansion versus non-expansion states has found increases in the number of low-income individuals with insurance coverage, reduced emergency room trips and hospital stays, and improvements in beneficiaries’ self-assessed health. The Medicaid expansion has also reduced the number of unpaid bills and debts in zip codes with high rates of low-income uninsured individuals. Reduced out of pocket healthcare spending may free up household income for other expenditures, such as food. Consequently, the primary research question of this study is to determine if the provision of Medicaid through the ACA expansion has consequences for diet quality among low-income households. Using the 2014 Medicaid expansion as a quasi-natural experiment and a difference-in-difference empirical strategy we find no evidence of increased food expenditures or improved diet quality among low-income U.S. households. We also determine if the Medicaid expansion affects participation rates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Preliminarily results indicate a small increase in SNAP participation in expansion states compared to non-expansion states. Additional research is warranted to determine how provision of healthcare through Medicaid influences food spending, diet quality, and participation in federal nutrition assistance programs.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
3:00pm - 4:15pm
W.B. Young Building, room 132
For more information, contact: Tatiana Andreyeva at tatiana.andreyeva@uconn.edu