The decision by 22 states not to expand under the will result in 5,200 avoidable deaths each year, according to a White House Report, along with hundreds thousands Americans not receiving needed medical and screenings such as cholesterol tests, mammograms and pap smears.
The 44-page report, “Missed Opportunities: The Consequences State Decisions Not to Expand ,” details the medical and economic benefits that would result if the 22 state followed the example the 28 states and the District Columbia that have taken advantage the federally-subsidized expansion under the Act. (Montana is moving toward the “expansion” column.)
“These 22 states have seen sharply slower progress in reducing the number over the last year and a half,” the report notes, adding, “If these states do not change course, 4.3 million their citizens will be deprived in 2016.”
Expansion in all 22 states would result in dramatic improvements in , funded by an estimated $29 billion in 2016 federal spending, the report states.
About 1 million people would gain access to a primary doctor, and nearly half them would receive “all needed ” in a given year.
Hundreds thousands would receive recommended preventive , including 626,000 getting screened for cholesterol, 163,000 women receiving mammograms and 262,000 receiving access to Papanicolaou tests, or “pap smears.”
Direct benefits to those who would be covered by include 572,000 who would report being in “excellent, very good or good” ; 393,000 fewer people experiencing symptoms depression; and 5,200 fewer deaths each year.
With access to , 193,000 fewer people would face catastrophic out--pocket medical expenses in a typical year, and 611,000 fewer people would have trouble paying other bills because the burden heavy medical expenses.
The $29 billion the 22 states would receive from the federal government in funding would improve the economies these states by enabling low-income residents to access . It would also reduce by $4.4 billion the uncompensated costs now borne by hospitals and .