Fewer hospitals closed after ACA expanded Medicaid

FRIDAY, Jan. 12, 2018 -- States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act had fewer hospital closures, especially in rural areas, a new study finds.

The researchers analyzed national data from the years before implementation of Medicaid expansion under Obamacare (2008-12) and the years after it took effect (2015-16).

Hospitals in the 32 states that expanded Medicaid were about 84 percent less likely to close than hospitals in states that did not expand the government-funded insurance program for the poor or disabled, the study found.

The findings are reported in the January issue of Health Affairs. The study was done by researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2018/01/12/Fewer-hospitals-closed-after-ACA-expanded-Medicaid/5531515801805/