(CNN) The expansion of the Medicaid program -- a major part of the Affordable Care Act -- has helped black cancer patients receive more timely treatment in states where expansion took place, according to new research. The data came from the nationwide electronic health record-derived database at Flatiron Health , a health care technology and services company. The researchers took a close look at whether cancer patient's treatment was "timely," defined as whether treatment began within 30 days of the diagnosis. The study had some limitations, including that more research is needed to determine whether similar differences by race would emerge among groups other than just white and black cancer patients. "Regardless of race, Medicaid expansion trended toward an increase in timely treatment overall," the researchers wrote.

Source: CNN June 02, 2019 11:37 UTC