GAINING GROUND: The Impact of Medicaid and WIC on Infant Mortality

Abstract

This research provides a statistical estimation of the impact of the Medicaid and WIC programs on the infant mortality rate in the United States. These programs are designed to improve the health of poor people by increasing access to traditional medical care and by improving the nutritional values of diets. Using a quasi-experimental, time-series analysis, program impacts are estimated for all infants, white infants, and nonwhite infants. The results suggest that these federal programs are responsible for a 20,000 to 35,000 annual reduction in infant deaths.