Researchers from Columbia University Detail New Studies and Findings in the Area of Managed Care (The Impact of Health Shocks On Housing Instability: Evidence From Urban Medicaid Enrollees): Managed Care

2026 JUL 06 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Hospital & Nursing Home Daily -- Current study results on Managed Care have been published. According to news reporting originating from New York City, New York, by NewsRx editors, the research stated, “Poor health and unstable housing are closely linked. Most research has focused on how housing shapes health, with little empirical study of whether and how health events can lead to future residential mobility or housing instability.”

Financial support for this research came from NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Columbia University, “This paper uses high-frequency administrative data on residential location and health among Medicaid enrollees in New York City to test whether adverse health events trigger housing mobility or insecurity, independent of the financial toll of medical bills. Using an event study design, I find that health shocks-or, sudden hospitalizations after two hospital-free years-immediately increase residential mobility (21-35 % relative increase) and the probability of living in shelters or on the street (6-10 % relative increase). These increased rates of mobility and instability persist above expected levels for at least two years. For unplanned or urgent hospital admissions, the impact of health events is even greater. These estimates imply that, in their immediate aftermath, adverse health events could be a tipping point for approximately 80,000 additional moves and 20,000 additional cases of homelessness among the U.S. Medicaid-insured population annually. The effects of health events on residential mobility are smaller for those with subsidized housing, a usual source of outpatient care, higher-quality inpatient care, and social support, suggesting potential areas for policy interventions to break the relationship between health problems and housing outcomes, from both inside and outside of health systems.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This work also contributes to our understanding of the long tail of social consequences of adverse health events.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: The Impact of Health Shocks On Housing Instability: Evidence From Urban Medicaid Enrollees. Journal of Health Economics, 2026;108. Journal of Health Economics can be contacted at: Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Health Economics - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-health-economics/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Kacie L. Dragan, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Policy and Management, 722 West 168TH St, 4TH Floor, New York, NY 10032, United States.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2026.103150. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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