The Medicaid Program makes available a comprehensive array of acute care and long-term care services to most of its enrollees, but spending patterns vary considerably across the different eligibility groups. Nearly all of the estimated spending per child and adult enrollee in 2003 was for acute care, while a much larger proportion of estimated spending per elderly and disabled enrollee was for long-term care. Forty percent of estimated spending per disabled enrollee was for long-term care, and almost three-quarters more than half of estimated spending per elderly enrollee was for long-term care.

Note: Long-term care represents 1.0% of spending per adult enrollee.

Source: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured estimates based on Congressional Budget Office and Urban Institute data, 2004.