It's pretty obvious already that health care reform has not only changed the way providers do business, but it may result in lower costs overall. But, thanks to Scott Walker, we're still pursuing the most costly and chaotic way to coverage tens of thousands of Wisconsinites. He really cares about us.
jsonline: A state health insurance program that provided improved access to care for adults with very low incomes in Milwaukee County sharply reduced hospitalizations, suggesting that the cost of expanding coverage could be partially offset by the money saved from fewer high-cost hospital stays, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin.
The study — published Monday in Health Affairs, a policy journal — found an increase in visits to clinics and emergency departments but a 59% drop in hospitalizations and a 48% drop in preventable hospitalizations.
Some conservative commentators have contended that people covered by Medicaid programs are no better off than people without health insurance.
Benjamin Sommers, a physician and health economist at the Harvard School of Public Health dismissed that contention, asserting that it is based on either ideology or flawed research. "There's now a pretty good body of literature over the past several years that suggests you certainly don't hurt them," he said. "You probably help them in several ways. You help their ability to access care. They are less likely to have major medical bills. Some of their health outcomes improve. And you may even reduce mortality."
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