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Antipoverty policies have the potential to improve mental health. We conducted a randomized trial (Paycheck Plus Health Study Randomized Controlled Trial, New York, New York) to investigate whether a 4-fold increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income Americans without dependent children would reduce psychological distress relative to the current federal credit. Between 2013 and 2014, a total of 5,968 participants were recruited; 2,997 were randomly assigned to the treatment group and 2,971 were assigned to the control group. Survey data were collected 32 months postrandomization (n  = 4,749). Eligibility for the program increased employment by 1.9 percentage points and after-bonus earnings by 6% ($635/year), on average, over the 3 years of the study. Treatment was associated with a marginally statistically significant decline in psychological distress, as measured by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, relative to the control group (score change = −0.30 points, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.63, 0.03; P  = 0.072). Women in the treated group experienced a half-point reduction in psychological distress (score change = −0.55 points, 95% CI: −0.97, −0.13; P  = 0.032), and noncustodial parents had a 1.36-point reduction (95% CI: −2.24, −0.49; P  = 0.011). Expansion of a large antipoverty program to individuals without dependent children reduced psychological distress for women and noncustodial parents—the groups that benefitted the most in terms of increased after-bonus earnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of the expansion of the Medicaid health insurance program in Oregon in relation to the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). Topics include the use of a lottery to enroll patients in the Medicaid program Oregon Health Plan Standard in relation to experimental design; the impact of the program on access to medical care and hospital use; and lack of change related to chronic disease risk, labor force participation, and use of social service programs.

The article opines on medical homes that gives effective primary health care to patients avoiding fragmentation through coordinated care. Though they are not very popular because of failure to resolve certain problems like obesity,and depression it is suggested that a social worker is needed who can help to provide a comprehensive care, a care of physical and mental health needs of patients,through case management services, rehabilitation services and helping patients to link social networks or accessing healthy foods. Not only so under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act social workers can also advocate on behalf of Medicaid and Medicare communities, proving social workers, definitely beneficial at medical homes, which is also presented.