Publications

Publications

Medicaid

The impact of the ACA on community mental health and substance abuse services: Experience in three Great Lakes states

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed states to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income childless adults, many of whom receive specialty mental health and substance use services through community mental health systems.  Leading up to the passage of the ACA, community mental health providers and their professional associations were generally supportive of expanding Medicaid under the ACA.  Medicaid covers specialty services …

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Decrease in Hospital Uncompensated Care in Michigan, 2015

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded access to health insurance coverage for Michigan residents in 2014 through the creation of the Health Insurance Marketplace and the expansion of the Medicaid program. Since then, Michigan has experienced large decreases in the number of adults who lack health insurance, delay necessary care, and have trouble paying their medical bills.[footnote]E. Austic, E. Lawton, …

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Hospital Uncompensated Care in the United States, 2015 – Comparison of Midwest States

Since the launch of health insurance coverage expansion in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Michigan and other states have experienced large decreases in the number of adults who lack health insurance, delay necessary care, and have trouble paying their medical bills.[footnote] Austic, E. Lawton, M. Slowey, M. Riba, and M. Udow-Phillips, Changes in Health Care Cost Barriers under …

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American Health Care Act: Michigan Impacts

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the American Health Care Act would have differential impacts on individuals depending on factors such as age, income, geographic location, plan choice, and overall health. In general, the CBO concluded that people who are older, sicker, or receive their coverage through Medicaid will likely see higher costs or lower levels of benefits, while …

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Changes in Health Care Cost Barriers under the Affordable Care Act in Michigan

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) not only significantly expanded access coverage starting in 2014, but also sought to improve access to services by reducing cost barriers to care and requiring coverage of certain “essential benefits”. For example, the ACA established patient annual out-of-pocket cost maximums; eliminated patient cost sharing for certain preventive care services; and prohibited annual and lifetime limits …

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Insurance Churning

The uninsured rate has declined substantially since provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) came into effect. Nevertheless, many individuals continue to experience instability in insurance coverage. Transitions between different insurance plans, as well as between insured and uninsured status, are often referred to as “insurance churning.” The causes of insurance churning vary. Changes in job status …

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Potential GOP Approaches to the Affordable Care Act

A focus on changes to the Affordable Care Act is one of President-elect Donald Trump’s top priorities, and he will enter office with a Republican-controlled Congress eager for a repeal and replace. What are the potential GOP approaches to the Affordable Care Act? In a new one-page summary, CHRT explains: What the GOP repeal and replacement plans could include What …

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Publicly Reported Hospital Quality Rankings

Publicly-reported hospital rankings are released annually and are widely publicized by both the sponsors of the rankings and hospitals that are highly ranked as indicators of hospital quality or safety. Meant to be a useful way for consumers to assess hospital quality, these ranking systems produce inconsistent, contradictory, and confusing results, as some hospitals are highly ranked in some systems …

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The Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Federally Qualified Health Centers in Michigan

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) form a critical part of the health care safety net, providing essential primary care services to people with limited health care access. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased FQHC funding from 2010 through 2015 and significantly expanded the insured population beginning in 2014. The purpose of this brief is to describe how the overall experience …

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Effects of the Affordable Care Act on the Health Care Safety Net in Detroit

Since its passage in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has introduced a series of health care financing and delivery reforms to expand coverage, invest in health care infrastructure, and implement changes to improve quality and costs. In 2014, the ACA’s coverage expansion began in Michigan through the launches of the health insurance marketplaces on January 1 and the Healthy …

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