Expansion Of Insured Americans By PPACA Cut Uncompensated Care Costs By $7.4 Billion In 2014

In 2014, hospital uncompensated care costs $7.4 billion lower than in 2013 due to the combined impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) insurance expansion provisions. Uncompensated care costs are about 21% lower, at $27.3 billion in 2014 compared to $34.7 billion in 2013.

These findings were reported in “Economic Impact of the Medicaid Expansion” and “Insurance Expansion, Hospital Uncompensated Care, and the Affordable Care Act” by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additional findings were as follows: