ASO Author Reflections: Breast Reconstruction Under the Affordable Care Act: Evidence for the Effect of Upstream Health Policy on Disparities

Abstract

Disparities in breast cancer care, including post-mastectomy reconstruction, are well known. In particular, the racial disparity related to reconstruction that affects black women has been widely studied. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 expanded Medicaid eligibility and led to mitigation of disparities in the number of uninsured non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients between 2013 and 2018. The authors report their evaluation of the effect that Medicaid expansion has had on breast reconstruction-related disparities.