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New Report Analyzes Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment by District; Highlights Influence of Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
NEW REPORT ANALYZES MEDICAID, CHIP ENROLLMENT BY DISTRICT; HIGHLIGHTS INFLUENCE OF PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON— Medicaid is a growing political issue, according to a white paper released today by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) in honor of the 55th birthday of Medicaid. “The Medicaid Voter” white paper quantifies the impact of Medicaid by state and by Congressional District, highlights past bipartisan support for the program, and details the recent history of Medicaid’s political salience in state elections.
“Medicaid benefits more Americans and influences more voters than political conventional wisdom suggests,” said ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray. “By quantifying its impact as a critical resource, our study reinforces what has been true about the Medicaid program since 1965—it is much more than you think.”
Using data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the United States Census Bureau, the study estimates the number of persons by state and Congressional district enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, as well as the estimated number of Americans in each state and Congressional District who have benefited from Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
Medicaid has received bipartisan support in Congress from its creation 55 years ago today through its extension to children in 1997. Since 1965, it has evolved from a program with narrow reach into a lifeline for one in five Americans.
Medicaid’s value to voters carries it through criticisms and attempts to cut the program. The bipartisan support historically given to the program by federal lawmakers is echoed at the polls. Look to recent elections in Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana and, just last month, Oklahoma—In each, voters supported candidates and ballot measures that supported Medicaid and, specifically, expansion of program coverage.
Read the study at www.communityplans.net.
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 77 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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