Does Medicaid help stabilize pandemic-related impacts on local budgets?
Local governments in the U.S. have had a prominent role in financing the COVID-19 pandemic response, even as they face budgetary strain caused by its economic fallout. Eliminating the financial burden on these governments may help them better address their localized pandemic responses. Researchers at the University of Kentucky examined the role of Medicaid as a stabilizer for local government budgets during the Great Recession and found the program helped mitigate the effect of unemployment shocks on spending. They project that it continues to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Availability of healthier food leads to healthier food choices
People living in food deserts have less access to affordable, nutritious food, which can increase negative health outcomes. The North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (HFSRP), established in 2016, provides up to $25,000 in funding to help small food stores stock healthier foods and beverages. Researchers at East Carolina University investigated perceptions of the HFSRP among store customers and found that, although very few participants were aware of the program, they recognized changes within the store and noted that the availability of healthier foods and beverages encouraged them to make healthier purchase and consumption choices.
Disparities in receipt of MOUD among pregnant women
Access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are critical for the health of mothers and their babies. But many barriers to receiving MOUD exist, especially for pregnant people and people using Medicaid. Researchers at Vanderbilt University studied all deliveries covered by Tennessee’s Medicaid program from 2009 to 2016 and found non-Hispanic Black pregnant women had persistently lower levels of MOUD receipt and that Hispanic ethnicity, rural residence, and speaking a primary language other than English were also associated with much lower likelihoods of MOUD receipt.
With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Urban Institute has announced a new funding and technical assistance opportunity for up to 10 community-based organizations to increase vaccine confidence and uptake for adults in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, three of the four states with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. Selected awardees will equip influential messengers by providing trainings and materials, increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnerships, and/or establish partnerships with state and local health departments. Applications are due by 8:00 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
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