Since Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many patients wounded by gunshots have received treatment they needed, something they couldn’t access before—and a benefit that may be taken away if President-elect Donald Trump’s administration dismantles the ACA.
Stories of gunshot victims are chronicled in a recent New York Times article that outlines the economic burdens that keep some gunshot patients from getting treatment to properly heal. If unable to access occupational therapists, mental health professionals and corrective surgery down the line, patients sometimes develop life-long, permanent disabilities.
And Medicaid expansion wasn’t only good for patients. It was also good for trauma departments who saw revenue increase as more of their patients were insured and had a way to pay for services. If the ACA is repealed, there is no guarantee right now that the same patients seeking care in an emergency department would be insured in the same way, accorinding to the article.
To read more about how Medicaid expansion has provided coverage to gunshot victims, follow the link below:
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.