National Report- July 2022
More Medicaid, Better Medicaid: Dismantling Barriers to Healthcare in the United States
While Medicaid has improved access to health care and health outcomes for recipients, many are not having all their needs met. Research has shown that Medicaid recipients experience many barriers to accessing quality healthcare.
Understanding the barriers that Medicaid recipients in their communities experience is a prerequisite to their elimination. The Center for Popular Democracy, Alaskans Take a Stand, Arkansas Community Organizations, Opportunity Knocks Delaware, Rights and Democracy New Hampshire, Texas Organizing Project, Our Future West Virginia, SPACEs in Action, and researchers at Columbia University created and administered a survey asking Medicaid recipients about their experiences accessing healthcare services with Medicaid coverage. In March and April 2022, they administered surveys via phone and text banking, social media, and outreach to community members and partner organizations. Respondents either independently filled out the survey online or had an organizer fill it out for them over the phone.
The following brief describes the experiences of 132 Medicaid recipients from 16 states and territories, who responded to the survey, and identifies the primary barriers they are facing alongside policy solutions to eliminate them. Their stories reveal two significant patterns: the critical need for expanded healthcare access and for vastly improved service delivery and quality of care across the US.
Partners: Center for Popular Democracy, Alaskans Take a Stand, Arkansas Community Organizations, SPACEs In Action, Opportunity Knocks Delaware, Rights & Democracy, Texas Organizing Project, and Our Future West Virginia