An article in the American Journal of Public Health was posted earlier this week which examines the effect that Medicaid expansion has had on workforce participation for people with disabilities. The article demonstrates that the workforce participation rate for people with disabilities is significantly higher in states where Medicaid has been expanded v. states where it has not been expanded. The article further points out that many people with disabilities were previously forced into Health Insurance Motivated Disability Enrollment (HIMDE) where they enrolled in social security disability or some other disability program, not for the cash assistance, but due to the fact that it provided reliable health coverage. The article posits that with Medicaid expansion, people with disabilities are now free to engage in employment and earn a living without the fear of losing their health coverage.

The article entitled “Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Workforce Participation for People With Disabilities” was written as part of the Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL) with which the NDNRC is involved. To download a copy of the article, click here.