This Center for Healthcare Strategies (CHS) and Mathematica Policy Research study examines the experience of ten states that have already expanded Medicaid to cover low-income childless adults to provide insight into this new expansion population under healthcare reform.

From the report:

Key findings include:

• The expansion population will include many relatively healthy beneficiaries as well as a significant number of individuals with multiple comorbidities and high levels of likely service utilization.
• Individuals who are below 50 percent of the federal poverty level will have the highest levels of morbidity, including high rates of mental illness and substance abuse.
• Different participation rates among population subsets will drive Medicaid costs; those with more complex needs are likely to enroll first.
• Costs for the expansion population on average are likely to be greater than costs for parents currently enrolled in Medicaid, but less than costs for adults with disabilities.
• States will need partners with experience caring for people with multiple chronic conditions.
• Medicaid must work closely with health insurance exchanges to ensure continuity of care for beneficiaries crossing income thresholds.

Full Report: Covering Low-Income Childless Adults in Medicaid

Center for Healthcare Strategies, Inc. (2010). Covering low-income childless adults in Medicaid: experiences from selected states. Somers, S., Hamblin, A., Verdier, J. and Byrd, V.