Journal
JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Volume 51, Issue 5, Pages 675-683Publisher
JOURNAL REHAB RES & DEV
DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2013.10.0225
Keywords
Affordable Care Act; cross-system use; Department of Veterans Affairs; health services; homelessness; Medicaid; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychiatric disorders; substance use disorder; veterans
Categories
Funding
- VA, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Administrative data on the population of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service users in 2010 under the age of 65 yr (n = 3,841,225) were analyzed to identify the number and characteristics of homeless and nonhomeless VA service users who are likely to be eligible for the Medicaid expansion (LEME) option under the Affordable Care Act. Results showed that, estimating conservatively, about 1.2 million (21%) current VA users are LEME if all states implement the expansion. Homeless service users were twice as likely to be eligible than nonhomeless users (64% vs 30%). VA service users who are LEME, regardless of housing status, were physically healthier than those not LEME but were more likely to have substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. These findings suggest that many VA service users are LEME, particularly those who are homeless and/or have mental health needs. Cross-system use of VA and Medicaid-funded services may be advantageous for veterans with extensive medical and psychiatric needs but also risks fragmented care. Information and education for VA clinicians and their patients about possible implications of the Affordable Care Act may be important.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available