Exploring the Impact of Medicaid Expansion on West Virginia’s Primary Care System

Abstract

Studies exploring the impact of Medicaid expansion on the primary care system have been limited to date. Using key informant interviews of administrators and providers within primary care centers, this manuscript explores the impact on patient care and practice, patient load, and other potential impacts of Medicaid expansion in West Virginia. Key findings include the lack of major increases in patient load and few changes in perceptions of patient care and practice. Providers and administrators expressed some increases in the ease and ability to refer to specialist care and lab testing. Further, the expansion was seen in an overwhelmingly positive light as creating the potential for better health outcomes for West Virginians in the long term. The manuscript concludes with thoughts about how sliding scale fees and the West Virginia Connect pilot project may have eased transition into the Medicaid expansion for our state and the importance of robust planning in future health care reform efforts.