Now that the dozens of repeal votes, budget battles, and court cases have failed to prevent the launch of the Affordable Care Act, we can turn our attention to its potential impacts. For cities and urban space, the Act's effects could be significant.
Drew Reed speculates on some of the ways in which the Affordable Care Act could influence the design and operation of America's cities.
"In terms of its direct effect on urban space, the most concrete effect it may have is changes to hospital construction. Since the 2008 economic crash, hospital construction has dropped significantly. As Planetzien [sic] notes, hospitals had been fleeing poor neighbourhoods even before the crisis, since poor people are less likely to have insurance."
"Obamacare would also have important effects on city budgeting," he continues. "Currently, several large US cities, most notably Detroit, are bankrupt. As Business Insider notes, the Obamacare plan provides them with a way to cover their public employee pension costs, freeing them up to get out of bankruptcy, and hopefully be able to make local investments to change the cityscape for the better."
FULL STORY: How Will Obamacare Affect Cities and Urban Space in the United States?
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Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research