Urban Institute

About: Urban Institute is a nonprofit organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Medicaid & Population. The organization has 927 authors who have published 2330 publications receiving 86426 citations.

Declining Medicaid Fees and Primary Care Appointment Availability for New Medicaid Patients.

Abstract: Appointment Availability for New Medicaid Patients Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid fees for primary care physicians were raised to Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014. The size of the federally funded increase varied widely, as Medicaid fees were close to Medicare levels in some states and Medicaid paid less than half for the same services in other states.1 A previous study found that higher Medicaid fees in 2014 were associated with increased primary care appointment availability for new Medicaid patients.2 Now that most states have returned to lower fee levels, it is time to examine whether declining Medicaid fees are associated with decreased primary care appointment availability for new Medicaid patients.

The Effects of Welfare and IDA Program Rules on the Asset Holding of Low-Income Families

Abstract: This report examines the effects of a comprehensive set of 13 welfare, Food Stamp, individual development account (IDA), earned income tax credit (EITC), and minimum wage program rules on the asset holdings of low-education single mothers and families. This report finds empirical evidence that more lenient asset limits in means-tested programs and more generous IDA program rules may have positive effects on asset holdings of low-education single mothers and families.

Economic growth and income equality since the 1982 recession

Abstract: This paper tests the “rising tide” and “trickle down” hypotheses of income growth by examining several measures of income inequality between 1983 and 1987. A close look at household incomes between those years shows that post-tax income growth has been concentrated among the 20 percent of American households with the highest incomes. The middle income classes have experienced only modest income growth over this period, and the 20 percent of American households with the lowest incomes have experienced a decline in income. These results hold whether the analysis is based on a summary measure of income equality such as the Gini coefficient, or on a less technical measure such as average income. Furthermore, income growth seems to be decreasing most rapidly for groups of households that historically have had the lowest incomes: female-headed households, blacks, and Hispanics. Finally, two standard explanations of the inequality trend—that the distributional changes are the result of either cohort effects or the movement of jobs to the lower wage areas of South—are tested by disaggregating the data. Neither hypothesis is confirmed by our research.

Changes in health insurance coverage during the economic downturn: 2000-2002

Abstract: Using Current Population Survey data from 2000-2002, this paper documents the changes that led the uninsured population to grow by 3.8 million during that time period. All of the increase in the uninsured occurred among adults, and two-thirds was among low-income adults. The extent to which the loss of employer coverage resulted in people becoming uninsured depended on their access to public programs: Children were more likely than adults to gain public coverage; women more likely than men; and parents more likely than nonparents. Middle- and higher-income Americans were also affected because many lost income and because rates of employer coverage were lower.

COBRA qualifying events and elections, 1987-1991.

Abstract: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) represents the first national employer mandate to address the problems associated with lost employment-related health insurance. This paper presents findings from two unique data sets on the incidence of COBRA coverage, election rates by type of qualifying event, and the demographic and labor market characteristics of covered individuals for the period 1987-1991. An estimated 1.3 million adults, aged 40 to 64, used COBRA in 1988. Nearly two-thirds had insurance in their own names, and the remaining third were dependents. From 1987 to 1991, 22% of those experiencing qualifying events elected to use COBRA. While work-related qualifying events were more prevalent than family-related events, election rates were higher in cases of family-related events. The information gained on the use of COBRA serves as a basis for the future design of a health insurance system that allows portability of benefits across jobs.