Pennsylvania: Medicaid expansion breaks 700,000 enrollees...each of whom would be kicked off post-ACA repeal.

I haven't posted an update on Pennsylvania's implementation of the ACA's Medicaid Expansion provision since last May, when it stood at around 625,000 enrollees.

Just moments ago, PA Governor Tom Wolf announced that enrollment has now broken the 700,000 milestone:

Over 700,000 Additional Pennsylvanians Enrolled in Governor Wolf’s Medicaid Expansion Plan
February 02, 2017

Harrisburg, PA – In February of 2015, Governor Wolf expanded Medicaid to ensure that Pennsylvanians can receive affordable, straightforward, accessible healthcare without unnecessary delays and confusion. Today, Governor Wolf announced that over 700,000 Pennsylvanians have enrolled in HealthChoices, Pennsylvania’s mandatory managed care Medicaid program, since expansion occurred two years ago. U.S. Census data shows that the commonwealth’s uninsured rate has dropped from 10.2 percent in 2010 to 6.4 percent in 2015.

“Medicaid expansion is working in the commonwealth. More people have access to health care, thousands of jobs were created, billions of dollars were infused into the economy, and hospitals have reduced uncompensated care,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “Additionally, we were able to provide access to critical drug and alcohol treatment to 124,170 newly eligible Pennsylvanians, which is helping to battle the opioid and heroin public health crisis.”

“We are now covering more than 700,000 people as a result of the Medicaid expansion Governor Wolf implemented and the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. Medicaid now provides essential care to approximately 21 percent of Pennsylvanians,” said DHS Secretary Ted Dallas. “The results of this report validate what we already knew – the significant impact this expansion has had on the commonwealth.”

As of January 20, 2017, 706,281 Pennsylvanians from across every county are enrolled in Medicaid because of expansion. The commonwealth has seen an increase in providers to serve the additional recipients. There are 4,422 more physicians, 601 more dentists, and 444 more certified registered nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania now compared to prior to when Medicaid expansion took effect in April 2015.

It's important that the press release specifies that the 706,281 figure is due specifically to the expansion provision; this doesn't include "woodworkers".

Today, Pennsylvania also released a report affirming the first year of Medicaid expansion’s positive impact on Medicaid enrollment, uninsured rates, the commonwealth’s budget, and the overall economy from January 2015 to December 2015. Utilization of health care services was also analyzed from April 2015 to March 2016. To view the Medicaid expansion report from the PA Department of Human Services, click here.

Year one of Medicaid expansion in the commonwealth had the following impact:

• Reduced the uninsured rate.
  • Every county in the commonwealth experienced an increase in Medicaid enrollment that ranged from 14 percent to 28 percent.
  • The uninsured rate for nonelderly adults in the commonwealth decreased from 11.7 percent in 2014 to 8.7 percent in 2015.
  • More than 550,000 newly eligible individuals were enrolled in the Medicaid program by the end of 2015
• Increased economic growth.
  • Health care providers received over $1.8 billion dollars in payments for serving newly eligible Medicaid expansion enrollees.
  • Added an estimated 15,500 jobs in Pennsylvania.
  • Increased economic outputs by $2.2 billion.
  • Resulted in an additional estimated $53.4 million in state tax revenue.
• Decreased hospital uncompensated care.
  • Uncompensated care is the total amount of health care services provided to patients who are unable to pay, capturing both uncollectible debt and charity care incurred by health care providers.
  • According to data compiled by the Pennsylvania Cost Containment Council, uncompensated care for Pennsylvania’s general acute care hospitals has increased every year from 2001 until 2015. This trend was reversed in 2015, when Governor Wolf expanded Medicaid, with the dollar amount decreasing by $92 million or 8.6 percent.
• Increased health status and health care service utilization.
  • The new benefit package extended health care coverage, both for physical health and behavioral health;
  • 45 percent of the expansion population received at least one preventative service.
  • 48 percent had at least one primary care physician visit, This included:
  • 146,694 individuals have a cardiovascular diagnosis
  • 159,923 individuals have a mental health diagnosis
  • 97,185 individuals have a Substance Use Disorder
  • 44,887 individuals have a Diabetes Type 2 diagnosis
  • 5,141 individuals have an HIV/AIDs diagnosis
• Increased Medicaid expenditures.
  • The federal government provided 100 percent health care expenditures for individuals meeting the federal definition of a Medicaid expansion enrollee, which were approximately $2.8 billion in 2015 and represented approximately 11 percent of the total Medicaid expenditures.