The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Opioid Overdose Mortality Rates: A Difference-In-Differences Analysis

In this difference-in-differences analysis, I examine how Medicaid expansion has affected opioid overdose death rates in US states. The majority of US states (27) passed Medicaid expansion when the Affordable Care Act went into effect, yet there are still states that have not. The opioid crisis has been an ongoing nationwide issue and persists with changes in legislation as well as US drug culture. Contrary to some other research papers, results from this analysis showcase higher opioid overdose mortality rates post-intervention in states that passed Medicaid expansion than states that chose not to.