Medicaid Expansion Allows More Angioplasty, Coronary Bypasses
Kathleen Gardner
| 2 min read
Michigan expanded Medicaid in 2014 with the goal of increasing access to primary care, lowering costs and improving overall health. Due to the Medicaid expansion, more Michigan residents are having angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery, according to a study published March 6 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). BCBSM’s Cardiovascular Consortium Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Collaborative Quality Initiative (CQI) led the study. ”We’ve heard lots of anecdotal evidence that the Medicaid expansion is making a real difference in the lives of people who would otherwise not have health insurance,“ said Heidi Chan, market president of Blue Cross Complete. “It’s always gratifying when research shows how Medicaid is making a difference.” Owned and operated as a joint venture between BCBSM and AmeriHealth Caritas, Blue Cross Complete covers approximately 200,000 members and is the fourth-largest Medicaid plan in Michigan. The Medicaid expansion enabled adults with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level to receive coverage, requires that enrollees take a health risk assessment and includes cost-sharing by enrollees. As a managed-care plan, Blue Cross Complete contracts with the state, which monitors the quality of services it provides to Medicaid members. Blue Cross Complete serves eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in 32 counties across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. About 57 percent of members live in Southeast Michigan’s three largest counties: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb.
Interested in learning more about the University of Michigan study? Check out this blog from our Value Partnerships website.
