Improved 3 Year Heart Transplant Survival in Black Recipients Following the Affordable Care Act

Abstract

To improve healthcare access, the US government implemented the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. Previous studies investigating its impact on healthcare inequities showed significant improvement in Black transplant recipient outcomes. Our objective is to determine the ACA’s impact on Black heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we analyzed 3,462 Black HTx recipients pre- and post-ACA (January 2009 to December 2012, and January 2014 to December 2017). Black recipient numbers and rates of overall HTx, insurance effects on survival, geographic changes in HTx, and post-HTx survival were compared pre- and post-ACA. Black recipients increased from 1,046 (15.3%) to 2,056 (22.2%) post-ACA (p < 0.001). Three year survival increased among Black recipients (85.8–91.9%, p = 0.01; 79.4–87.7%, p < 0.01; 78.3–84.6%, p < 0.01). Affordable Care Act implementation was protective for survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.64 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51–0.81], p < 0.01). Publicly insured patient survival increased post-ACA to match that of privately insured (87.3–91.8%, p = 0.001). United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Regions 2, 8, and 11 experienced improved survival post-ACA (p = 0.047, p = 0.02, and p < 0.01, respectively). The post-ACA era showed improved HTx access and survival in Black recipients, indicating that national medical policy may play a strong role in eliminating racial disparities. Further attention is required to improve inequities in medical care. http://links.lww.com/ASAIO/B2