Study on Accepting Federal Funds to Broaden Coverage through Medicaid

Conducted for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

February 2013

Introduction

Two Studies on States Accepting Federal Funds for Medicaid

1. Internal messaging poll – Test frames– Identify strongest message concepts in favor of states accepting funds– Identify strongest opposition messages– Messengers

2. Public polls among registered voters in seven states– Gauge voters’ views on the issue– Draw media and policymaker attention to voters’ views– Use in advocacy efforts

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Testing Two Frames

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Testing Two Frames

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Results of Frame Test

1. Alternative frame (accept/reject funds) beats Expansion frame by 10 points at the outset. In other words, you start 10 points behind just by using the Expansion frame.

2. You gain support from key demographics with Alternative frame.

3. Strong support goes down in Expansion frame after hearing opposition messages. The Alternative frame weathers opposition messages better.

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Supporters in either frame:• Democrats• Lower-income voters• Those affected by Medicaid• African-American voters• Young voters

Who you gain in Alternative frame:• Independents• Republicans (less opposition)• Upper-income voters• Older voters• Unaffected by Medicaid• Latinos

(Re)frame the Issue

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Lead with the Strongest Message Concepts in Favor of Accepting Funds

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Respond to Strongest Messages Against Accepting Funds

1. Expanding Medicaid will mean higher taxes and more government debt. We need

to cut government spending, not increase it.

2. Expanding Medicaid will mean less money in the state budget for education,

roads, police and other priorities.

3. There is a lot of fraud and abuse in Medicaid. We shouldn’t be putting more

money into a program that already wastes so much of it.

4. Medicaid is one of the most costly items in our state budget. STATE can’t afford

the costs of Medicaid today, and we definitely can’t afford expanding the

program.

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Best Messengers Are Health-Related Professionals

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RESULTS FROM PUBLIC POLLS

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Description of Issue Presented to Respondents

Next I’d like to ask you about an issue being talked about by the governor and the state legislature. Under the new federal health care law, [number of] people in [state] who are uninsured right now could get health care coverage through Medicaid starting in 2014. The governor and state elected officials can choose to accept federal dollars that have been allocated to cover these people in [state], or to turn the money down and not cover these people. The federal dollars cover 100% of the costs in the first few years, and 90% of the costs after that.

Based on what you know right now, what would you like your state to do: Accept the money or turn the money down?

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By Large Margins, Voters Want their State to Accept Funds

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