Medicaid's Role in Health Reform and Closing the Coverage Gap. Issue 4 (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowland, Diane; Lyons, Barbara
• Editors: Rosenbaum, Sara; Thorpe, Jane Hyatt
• Is Part Of: Journal of law, medicine & ethics. Volume 44:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 580
• Page End: 584
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Medical laws and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Legislation, Medical -- Periodicals; Legislation, Nursing -- Periodicals; Ethics -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Societies -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation; Medical ethics; Medical laws and legislation; United States; Periodicals; 344.73041
• DOI: 10.1177/1073110516684790
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1105

Abstract

Abstract : Medicaid coverage matters for millions of low-income Americans, and especially for those with ongoing and serious health challenges. A source of comprehensive and affordable coverage, Medicaid has long been a cornerstone of federal and state efforts to improve access and health outcomes for very poor and medically vulnerable populations. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) leveraged Medicaid's role in serving the poor to broaden the program's reach to millions of low-income uninsured adults, and positioned the program as a fundamental component of the newly established continuum of public and private coverage. Looking ahead, if more states embrace the Medicaid expansion, there is the potential to build on this progress to significantly reduce the number of uninsured Americans.