Medicaid

new and noteworthy

Medicaid/CHIP Monthly Enrollment Tracker

Medicaid enrollment declined by 5 million people (6%) from May 2025 through May 2026. Child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP declined in 49 states and DC, and adult enrollment dropped in all but five states (IA, MO, NC, OK, SD). KFF's tracker presents the most recent Medicaid enrollment data by month and state.

Medicaid work requirements

Medicaid and the Road Ahead: Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What’s Next for States, Providers and Families

Event Date:

Passed last year, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act made significant changes to Medicaid—the primary insurance provider for health and long-term care for people with low incomes. These changes are expected to lead to coverage loss for many current enrollees and will reduce funding for Medicaid, placing new financial pressures on states and health care providers. On July 23, KFF and States Newsroom hosted an event focused on the impacts of work requirements and other federal policy changes on states, health care systems, and people.

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 describes states’ current provider taxes and explores how rules governing provider taxes are changing.

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.

Dual Eligibles

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  • Primers on Key Health Care Topics and Programs

    Issue Brief

    The Kaiser Family Foundation maintains a number of primers providing overviews of key health care programs and issues. Written by Foundation staff, each primer provides key data and information that helps illustrate the topic and its relevance for the nation's health care system. Medicaid: A Primer Medicare: A Primer The Uninsured: A Primer Health Care Costs: A Primer How Private Health Coverage Works: A Primer Mental Health Financing in the United States: A Primer The…

  • Managed Care and Low-Income Populations: A Case Study of Managed Care in California

    Report

    This report updates a 1994 case study of California's Medicaid managed care initiative. California uses three predominant managed care models in its Medi-Cal program: county organized health (COHS), geographic managed care (GMC), and the two-plan model. This case study focuses specifically on Los Angeles County's two-plan model and Orange County's COHS model. It is one of a series of reports from the Kaiser/Commonwealth Low-Income Coverage and Access Project. This project examines how changes in the…

  • The Olmstead Decision: Implications for Medicaid

    Issue Brief

    In June, 1999, the Supreme Court rule in Olmstead v L.C. that states were required to provide services to persons with disabilities in community settings rather than institutions, if certain conditions were met. This Policy Brief provides an overview of the Olmstead case, including the facts, the court ruling, and the disposition of the case. In addition, the brief describes the issues surrounding implementation and the implications this ruling could have for state Medicaid programs.…

  • Access to Care for S-CHIP Children with Special Health Needs

    Issue Brief

    A study of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri, and Utah CHIP programs show that the states have features in place for special needs children, but problems of provider availability and service authorization did sometimes occur. This is the first in a series of reports on implementation issues and challenges in the first year of CHIP. ISSUE BRIEF Download

  • Where is Medicaid Spending Headed?

    Fact Sheet

    This content package page includes a report providing an overview of the changes in Medicaid expenditures since 1988, including an analysis of the slowdown in Medicaid growth since 1992. Also included in the package is a press release, chart pack and fact sheet on Medicaid spending and enrollment trends. News Release News Release: Medicaid Spending Growth Rate Slows Fact Sheet Fact Sheet Report Report

  • Medicare and Medicaid for the Elderly and Disabled Poor

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet provides an overview of the role of Medicare and Medicaid in serving these beneficiaries, describes the health status of dual Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, and discusses issues of managed care and access to care.This fact sheet is a summary of a longer Background Paper (#2132), which is also available. Fact Sheet

  • State Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Policies:  Findings from a National Survey, 2005 Update

    Poll Finding

    State Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Policies: Findings from a National Survey, 2005 Update This survey of state Medicaid pharmacy programs supplements surveys conducted in 2003 and 2000 and reports Medicaid prescription drug policies in effect in early 2005. It covers key elements of utilization management, drug purchasing and potential impacts of the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Report (.pdf) Executive Summary (.pdf)

  • Medicare Part D: Issues for Dual Eligibles on the Eve of Implementation

    Issue Brief

    Medicare Part D: Issues for Dual Eligibles on the Eve of Implementation This issue brief describes how dual eligibles are treated under the Medicare drug benefit and the issues raised by their transition from Medicaid to Medicare drug coverage. The brief also explores key differences in the Medicare drug benefit compared to Medicaid drug coverage (formularies, copayments, and appeals policies) which could make the shift especially challenging for dual eligibles. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • Asset Transfer and Nursing Home Use

    Issue Brief

    Asset Transfer and Nursing Home Use This issue brief examines asset transfer data of elderly nursing home residents and finds that for those who qualify for Medicaid, their average asset transfer are small, sufficient to cover about one month of private nursing home care. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • Long-Term Service and Supports: The Future Role and Challenges for Medicaid

    Report

    This report examines the structure and impact of Medicaid’s role in long-term care. Based on a roundtable discussion of policy makers and experts and drawn from a body of health services research, the report highlights policy challenges facing the Medicaid program today and identifies issues in providing long-term care going forward. By gathering evidence to address key policy issues, such as integrating services, benefit design, quality monitoring and financing, the report can serve as a…