Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will lead to a modest increase in jobs, concludes a new study by the Urban Institute.
The report, "How Will The Affordable Care Act Affect Jobs," counteracted claims in some circles that the healthcare reform law could cost the United States as much as 1.6 million jobs.
Researchers concluded that the overall affect of reform is too small to greatly move the economy in any particular direction, accounting for no more than one-quarter of 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product during its first decade of implementation.
As a result, there will be a small growth in jobs.
"The expansion of health insurance coverage through new Medicaid coverage and income-related subsidies will increase federal spending on healthcare. This will result in increased demand for labor in the health sector, including increasing use of medical equipment, new technologies and pharmaceuticals and could lead to wage and salary increases in the health sector," the report said.
For more:
- read the Healthcare Finance News article
- read the Urban Institute study