Considering Whether Medicaid Is Worth the Cost

Revisiting the Oregon Health Study

Bibliographic Data

ID11038436
AuthorsPeter Muennig (0000-0002-4234-0498, Columbia University), Peter A Muennig (Peter A. Muennig and Ryan Quan are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY. Codruta Chiuzan is with the Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Sherry Glied is with the Wagner School, New York University, New York.), Ryan Quan (Peter A. Muennig and Ryan Quan are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY. Codruta Chiuzan is with the Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Sherry Glied is with the Wagner School, New York University, New York.), Codruta Chiuzan (0000-0001-8169-5032, Peter A. Muennig and Ryan Quan are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY. Codruta Chiuzan is with the Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Sherry Glied is with the Wagner School, New York University, New York.), Sherry Glied (0000-0001-9432-1662, Peter A. Muennig and Ryan Quan are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY. Codruta Chiuzan is with the Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Sherry Glied is with the Wagner School, New York University, New York.)
Year2015
Volume105
Issue5
Pages866-871
Publication date2015-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2014.302485
PMID25790389
OpenAlexW1982359782
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited17

The Oregon Health Study was a groundbreaking experiment in which uninsured participants were randomized to either apply for Medicaid or stay with their current care. The study showed that Medicaid produced numerous important socioeconomic and health benefits but had no statistically significant impact on hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes. Medicaid opponents interpreted the findings to mean that Medicaid is not a worthwhile investment. Medicaid proponents viewed the experiment as statistically underpowered and, irrespective of the laboratory values, suggestive that Medicaid is a good investment. We tested these competing claims and, using a sensitive joint test and statistical power analysis, confirmed that the Oregon Health Study did not improve laboratory values. However, we also found that Medicaid is a good value, with a cost of just $62 000 per quality-adjusted life-years gained

Actuarial science · Business · Environmental health · Health care · Investment (military) · Medicaid · Political science · Population · Socioeconomic status · Demography · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Healthcare Policy and Management · Law · Medicine · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Gerontology

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