An article in the current New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM 2012;367: 1025-34) reported the results of Medicaid expansion on health and mortality in three states, including Maine.

The conclusions were, “Medicaid expansions to cover low-income adults were significantly associated with reduced mortality as well as improved coverage, access to care, and self-reported health.”

Meanwhile, our governor is pressing urgently to reduce Medicaid enrollment by about 24,000, which this study demonstrates will lead to an increase in deaths among Maine’s needy.

When “Let them die!” was shouted out at a Republican debate as a solution to the problem of the medically uninsured, and the line was applauded, some of us wondered if they really meant it.

It appears that they did and they do.

James Hall

Wayne


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