| Chronic asthma affects 5 million children in the United States, creating a large burden for families; however, when asthma is managed effectively it can prevent the incidence of childhood disability and even death. The expansion of Medicaid has clearly played an important role in the way that this condition is managed by our society. Utilizing the comprehensive Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) compiled by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, this study investigates the relationship of the health status of asthmatic children to the insurance eligibility status of the individual child. In addition, racial differences asthmatic children's health status and their eligibility status is examined. For the purpose of this study two models will be used: a cross-sectional model studying asthmatic children during the years 1996 through 2000 and a fixed effects model. |
