The Medicaid BudGet Debate
What Potential Medicaid Cuts Could Mean for States and Their Residents
KFF estimates that $880 billion in potential Medicaid cuts would represent 29% of states’ spending on Medicaid. Federal cuts of this size equate to 6% of state taxes per resident nationwide or 19% of state education spending per pupil, highlighting the tough choices states would face if they wanted to maintain current Medicaid policy with less federal funding.
Understanding Medicaid
5 Facts: Fraud, Waste, Abuse and Improper Payments
While fraud and abuse may be one cause of improper payments, not all improper payments are fraud or abuse. This brief explains improper payments and describes state and federal actions to address program integrity.5 Facts: Medicaid and Immigrants
Confusion persists about immigrants’ eligibility for federal programs. This brief helps readers understand how current Medicaid policy affects immigrants as well as the potential impacts of policy changes under the Trump administration.5 Facts: Medicaid and Provider Taxes
As Congress weighs potential cuts in federal Medicaid spending, one option under consideration is to limit the use of state taxes on providers. This brief describe states’ current provider taxes and the federal rules governing them.5 Facts: Medicaid and Hospitals
Absorbing reductions in Medicaid spending could be challenging for hospitals, particularly for those that are financially vulnerable. This brief provides data on the reach of Medicaid across hospitals, patients, and charity care.Medicaid Financing: The Basics
Medicaid represents $1 out of $6 spent on health care in the U.S. and is the major source of financing for state health coverage and long-term services and supports for low-income residents.
Latest Medicaid Polling
Latest Polling
Medicaid and work
Tracking State Medicaid Work Requirements
Even as the federal legislative debate evolves, some states are again pursuing Medicaid work requirements. The map on the right identifies approved and pending work requirement waivers (submitted to CMS since January 2025) as well as proposals that have been released at the state-level for “public comment” or state legislative activity involving work requirements once a bill has passed out of committee.
Visit KFF’s Medicaid Waiver Tracker for more information on Medicaid work requirements.
Visit KFF’s Medicaid Waiver Tracker for more information on Medicaid work requirements.
Latest News
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Medi-Cal Under Threat: Who’s Covered and What Could Be Cut?
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States Push Medicaid Work Rules, but Few Programs Help Enrollees Find Jobs
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The House Speaker’s Eyeing Big Cuts to Medicaid. In His Louisiana District, It’s a Lifeline.
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‘If They Cut Too Much, People Will Die’: Health Coalition Pushes GOP on Medicaid Funding