Publication Date
Summary
This is another study based on the Oregon randomized Medicaid experiment. This experiment showed that patients randomly selected for Medicaid coverage had much higher levels of primary care visits, lab tests and imaging, and specialist referrals in community health centers.
Policy Implications
States should be prepared for increased levels of demand at community health centers as Medicaid programs are expanded. This implication is important, as it runs contrary to a popular belief that newly insured patients would more likely frequent doctors offices and hospitals.