The study, conducted by researchers at the Boston-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology, examined data on low-income Oregon residents. Those recently enrolled in Medicaid tended to visit the ED more often, about 1.4 times during an 18-month period, compared to about 1 time for those without insurance. In total, spending per new Medicaid patient was $120 higher per year than for an uninsured patient.
Part of the reason the Medicaid expansion is part of the PPACA was the idea that the insurance expansion would reduce ER use and promote better preventive behaviors, according to the Wall Street Journal report.
