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The Affordable Care Act, Public Insurance Expansion and Opioid Overdose Mortality

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  • Mark McInerney

    (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of expanded public insurance, resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, on opioid related mortality. I utilize variation in states’ decisions to expand Medicaid and variation in the timing of expansion among expanding states to measure this impact. Opioid related mortality data are examined from 1999-2015 using the National Vital Statistics multiple cause of death files. My findings suggest that public insurance expansion led to reductions in opioid related overdose deaths for heroin and other narcotics by about 26% and increases in methadone related deaths by about 18%. My study builds on recent work that shows increases in prescriptions to treat opioid use disorder in expanding states relative to non-expanding states.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark McInerney, 2017. "The Affordable Care Act, Public Insurance Expansion and Opioid Overdose Mortality," Working papers 2017-23, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2017-23
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abby Alpert & David Powell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2017. "Supply-Side Drug Policy in the Presence of Substitutes: Evidence from the Introduction of Abuse-Deterrent Opioids," NBER Working Papers 23031, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Abby Alpert & David Powell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2018. "Supply-Side Drug Policy in the Presence of Substitutes: Evidence from the Introduction of Abuse-Deterrent Opioids," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(4), pages 1-35, November.
    3. Gary Solon & Steven J. Haider & Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, 2015. "What Are We Weighting For?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(2), pages 301-316.
    4. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Ioana Popovici & Elisheva Stern, 2015. "Health Insurance Expansions and Provider Behavior: Evidence from Substance Use Disorder Providers," DETU Working Papers 1510, Department of Economics, Temple University.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Beth Ann Griffin & Megan S. Schuler & Elizabeth A. Stuart & Stephen Patrick & Elizabeth McNeer & Rosanna Smart & David Powell & Bradley Stein & Terry Schell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2020. "Variation in Performance of Commonly Used Statistical Methods for Estimating Effectiveness of State-Level Opioid Policies on Opioid-Related Mortality," NBER Working Papers 27029, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Opioids; Substance Use Disorder; Medicaid; Medicaid Expansion; Public Insurance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare

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