The Impact of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform on Unpaid Medical Bills

In this study, we use hospital financial information and a panel data difference-in-difference model to assess the impact of the Massachusetts health care reform on unpaid medical bills. We find that the reform reduced the financial burden for patients, reflected by a 26percent decrease in hospital bad debt. The effect was more pronounced among safety-net hospitals, indicating a larger benefit for the most vulnerable population.
Source: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Research Papers Source Type: research