Building the Evidence base

Medicaid Expansion Increased Preconception Health Counseling, Folic Acid Intake, and Postpartum Contraception

11.23.2020
Laura Wherry

The period before pregnancy is critically important for the health of a woman and her infant, yet not all women have access to health insurance during this time. Rebecca Myerson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Samuel Crawford of the University of Southern California, and Laura R. Wherry of New York University evaluated whether increased access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions affected ten preconception health indicators, including the prevalence of chronic conditions and health behaviors, birth control use and pregnancy intention, and the receipt of preconception health services.

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Income support programs do more than reduce income inequality—they also save lives and promote health equity

12.14.2020
Lisa Dubay, Nye Harte

To help people make ends meet, the United States offers a set of income supports for families with low-incomes, children, seniors and people with disabilities. Recent research from Policies for Action found these income support programs do more than reduce income inequality—they also save lives and promote health equity, particularly for women and children.