The effects of express lane eligibility on Medicaid and CHIP enrollment among children.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the impact of Express Lane Eligible (ELE) implementation on Medicaid/CHIP enrollment in eight states.


METHODS
2007 to 2011 data from the Statistical Enrollment Data System (SEDS) on Medicaid/CHIP enrollment.


METHODS
We estimate difference-in-difference equations, with quarter and state fixed effects. The key independent variable is an indicator for whether the state had ELE in place in the given quarter, allowing the experience of statistically matched non-ELE states to serve as a formal counterfactual against which to assess the changes in the eight ELE states. The model also controls for time-varying economic and policy factors within each state.


METHODS
We obtained SEDS enrollment data from CMS.


RESULTS
Across model specifications, the ELE effects on Medicaid enrollment among children were consistently positive, ranging between 4.0 and 7.3 percent, with most estimates statistically significant at the 5 percent level. We also find that ELE increased combined Medicaid/CHIP enrollment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results imply that ELE has been an effective way for states to increase enrollment and retention among children eligible for Medicaid/CHIP. These results also imply that ELE-like policies could improve take-up of subsidized coverage under the ACA.
The Urban Institute's Health Policy Center, Urban Institute, Washington, DC.
Fredric
F
Blavin
Genevieve M
GM
Kenney
Michael
M
Huntress
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000379:methods*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States
Evaluation design and research; Express Lane Eligiblity, Medicaid; health economics; program evaluation; state health policies