The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the organization’s core operating programs.
Medicaid Enrollment and Spending by "Mandatory" and "Optional" Eligibility and Benefit Categories This report presents new estimates of the proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries and spending that is mandatory and optional to promote an increased understanding of how Medicaid restructuring proposals might affect the various groups and services covered by the program. Report (.pdf)
The nation’s safety net financing is fragmented; consequently, providers must knit together resources from many different funding sources to create a stream of revenue to cover the costs of providing a very broad range of services. This report describes those sources of revenue, documenting that nearly 40% of all safety net revenues are from Medicaid. The report also describes challenges that safety net hospitals and health systems are experiencing as they attempt to rebound from…
Over the past few years, a number of states have implemented new or increased existing out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries in their Medicaid, SCHIP, or other public coverage programs. This brief reviews the key findings from this recent activity, including the impact on enrollment in public coverage programs, access to care, and providers. Issue Paper (.pdf)
This report explores how four state Medicaid programs — Washington, Wyoming, Minnesota, and North Carolina — differ in their use of Oregon’s Drug Effectiveness Review Project (DERP) to manage their prescription drug benefit. Report (.pdf)
Medicaid and Long-Term Care While Medicaid is the nation’s major source of financing for long-term care services, paying for over 40% of total long-term care, its role is not well understood. Misperceptions on who qualifies and what is covered are common. A fact sheet and a Q & A sheet about Medicaid’s role in long-term care assistance provide basic information on the topic. Medicaid’s Role in Long-Term Care: Q & A Medicaid and Long-Term Care…
Financing long-term care for the nearly 10 million Americans who need services and support to assist them in life’s daily activities continues to challenge the nation. While Medicaid is the nation’s major source of financing for long-term care services, paying for over 40% of total long-term care, its role is not well understood. Misperceptions on who qualifies and what is covered are common. A new question and answer fact sheet about Medicaid’s long-term care assistance…
Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Nearly three million workers earn their living through migrant or seasonal farm labor. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families confront health challenges stemming from the nature of their work, their extreme poverty and mobility, and living and working arrangements that impede access to health coverage and care. This brief provides an overview of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and the health challenges they face…
This report examines how medical support requirements impact parents applying for Medicaid coverage for themselves and their children. The report draws from case studies of medical support procedures obtained in five states: Arizona, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Report (.pdf)
Lack of health insurance coverage among millions of Americans remains one of this nation’s most pressing social challenges, but one that is often not well understood. Common knowledge about who the uninsured are, why they are uninsured, the difference health coverage makes, as well as the impact on all our lives of having a large uninsured population — is riddled with misconceptions and myths. Basic facts about the uninsured, outlined here under the most common…
In recent years there has been much discussion about states’ use of creative financing to draw down additional federal funds for Medicaid financing. Some suggest a curb on these practices and the President’s FY2006 budget includes provisions targeting intergovernmental transfers (IGTs). The Commission has produced a fact sheet and briefs on Medicaid financing issues. Medicaid Financing Issues: Intergovernmental Transfers and Fiscal Integrity - An Overview of IGTs, UPLs, and DSH - Issue Brief Medicaid's Federal-State…
© 2026 KFF