How expanding Medicaid affects death rates and poverty gaps
The Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Mortality Disparities and Poverty
This project looks at whether expanding Medicaid helped lower deaths and shrink poverty-related gaps for adults, especially in Black and rural communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146636 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use national and county records on deaths, incomes, and demographics to compare outcomes in states that did and did not expand Medicaid after 2014. They will focus on adults aged 21 and older and examine intersecting groups—such as Black people living in rural counties—to see how mortality gaps changed. The team will develop an improved cost-of-living adjustment for poverty measures and apply statistical methods to estimate whether reductions in poverty explain changes in death disparities. The work uses existing data sources like census data, death records, and community surveys, so it does not require patients to enroll in a clinic.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The research focuses on U.S. adults (age 21+)—especially low-income, Black, and rural residents whose outcomes would be affected by Medicaid expansion.
Not a fit: People under 21, non-U.S. residents, or adults whose Medicaid eligibility or access did not change because of state policy likely would not see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could guide policies to target Medicaid and anti-poverty efforts where they most reduce deaths and health gaps.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have found that Medicaid expansion was linked to larger drops in overall mortality, but using it specifically to shrink racial and rural mortality gaps is less tested.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mueller, Joel Thomas — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mueller, Joel Thomas
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.