Medicaid

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Spending on Medicaid State Directed Payments Before New Limits Take Effect

Forty states and DC currently receive $93 billion in annual federal Medicaid spending through state directed payments (SDPs) and may be at risk due to forthcoming limits on these payments, according to new KFF estimates. Annual federal spending on SDPs is highest in California (an estimated $10.6 billion)—followed by Texas ($6.3 billion), North Carolina ($5.2 billion), and Illinois ($5.1 billion).

Forthcoming Policy Changes to Medicaid State Directed Payments

Changes to Medicaid State Directed Payments

The 2025 reconciliation law cut federal Medicaid spending by an estimated $911 billion from 2025 through 2034, some of which stems from new restrictions on Medicaid state directed payments (SDPs) for hospital and other health care services. This issue brief describes SDPs and forthcoming policy changes stemming from the 2025 law and the proposed regulation to implement those requirements and make other changes.

Medicaid Work RequiremEnts

Tracking the 2025 Reconciliation Law’s Medicaid Work Requirements: Data and Policies

To implement Medicaid work requirements, states will need to make important policy and operational decisions, implement needed system upgrades or changes, develop new outreach and education strategies, and hire and train staff, all within a relatively short timeframe. The information tracked here can serve as a resource to understand Medicaid work requirements and state options, gauge readiness, and track implementation of the requirements.

understanding medicaid

Medicaid Financing

Medicaid represents $1 out of every $5 spent on health care in the U.S. and is the major source of financing for states to provide health coverage and long-term care. This brief examines key questions about Medicaid financing and how it works.

Medicaid Program Integrity

This brief explains what is known about improper payments and fraud and abuse in Medicaid and describes ongoing state and federal actions to address program integrity.

Medicaid and Provider Taxes

All states except Alaska cover some state Medicaid costs with taxes on health care providers. This brief uses data from KFF’s 2024-2025 survey of Medicaid directors to describe current practices and the federal rules governing them.

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 Home Care

This issue brief provides an overview of what Medicaid home care (also known as “home- and community-based services”) is, who is covered, and what services were available in 2025.

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  • Growing Majority of Americans Oppose Congress’ Plan to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act

    News Release

    Intensity Gap: Democrats are Twice as Enthusiastic about the ACA than Republicans are About Its Replacement Two-Thirds of Public Oppose Major Medicaid Cuts as Part of Repeal and Replace Plan As the U.S. Senate continues to debate their plan to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the latest Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll finds the public souring on the effort with a growing majority opposed to the plan. This month’s poll finds 61…

  • Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – July 2017: What’s Next for Republican ACA Repeal and Replacement Plan Efforts?

    Feature

    As the U.S. Senate continues to debate their plan to repeal and replace the ACA, the latest Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll finds the public souring on the effort with a growing majority opposed to the plan and a large share that say the plan does not fulfill most of the promises President Trump has made about health care. Even among Republicans, the poll finds that about half would be “less likely” to support the…

  • Medicaid’s Role in Ohio

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet provides data on Medicaid's role in Ohio. It describes how ending the enhanced match for Medicaid expansion and implementing a per capita cap or block grant would affect Ohio.

  • Medicaid’s Role in Kentucky

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet provides data on Medicaid's role in Kentucky. It describes how ending the enhanced match for Medicaid expansion and implementing a per capita cap or block grant would affect Kentucky.

  • The Opioid Epidemic and Medicaid’s Role in Treatment: A Look at Changes Over Time

    Feature

    This chart pack provides data on opioid addiction, overdose deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits from 2005-2015. It also includes data on Medicaid’s growing role in covering people receiving treatment for opioid addiction, and discusses the potential impact of Medicaid restructuring as proposed in the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the Senate's bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

  • Medicaid’s Role in Financing Behavioral Health Services for Low-Income Individuals

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief provides an overview of Medicaid’s role in financing behavioral health services. It includes information on eligibility, benefits, service delivery, access to care, and spending. It also discusses the potential impact of Medicaid restructuring as proposed in the Better Care Reconciliation Act.