Medicaid

new and noteworthy

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 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.

Dual Eligibles

Stay informed.

Stay informed.

Filter

1,581 - 1,590 of 2,736 Results

  • Stop the Drop: Profiles of Innovative Medicaid Renewal Initiatives and Lessons for 2014 and Beyond

    Event Date:
    Event

    Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there will be a new continuum of coverage options available beginning in 2014. While there currently is significant focus on enrolling eligible people into these new coverage options, it also is important to plan for how to keep eligible people enrolled in coverage over time through successful renewals of coverage. Retention is important for supporting individuals’ access to and continuity of care and minimizing unnecessary administrative costs associated with…

  • Poor People Have the Same Needs as Others

    From Drew Altman

    Drew Altman, President and CEO of the Foundation, was asked to contribute to the New York Times' Room for Debate discussion on More Medicaid, More Health? In his piece, Dr. Altman concludes "Insurance -- public or private -- provides financial protection and access to medical care which low-income people need just as everybody else does. But it cannot by itself change behavior, alleviate poverty, or guarantee that the medical system is doing all it can…

  • What Difference Does Medicaid Make? Assessing Cost Effectiveness, Access, and Financial Protection under Medicaid for Low-Income Adults

    Issue Brief

    This brief examines the cost and use of health care among low-income nonelderly adults who are covered by Medicaid relative to their expected service use and costs if they instead had employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) coverage or were uninsured. The analysis controls for a wide array of factors that also influence utilization and spending in an effort to isolate the specific effects of Medicaid coverage. Consistent with previous research, the analysis underscores how Medicaid facilitates access…

  • Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: April 2013

    Feature

    With open enrollment in new health coverage options created under the Affordable Care Act set to begin in October, much of the public remains confused about the status of the law. The April 2013 Kaiser Health Tracking Poll provides a rough baseline of public awareness of the ACA before more intensive consumer information and consumer assistance efforts begin.

  • Summary of the Affordable Care Act

    Fact Sheet

    This document summarizes the comprehensive 2010 health reform law, often called the Affordable Care Act or ACA, including changes made to it by subsequent legislation, with a focus on provisions to expand coverage, control costs, and improve delivery systems.

  • Enrollment-Driven Expenditure Growth: Medicaid Spending During the Economic Downturn, FY 2007-2011

    Report

    This report presents data on changes in Medicaid's enrollment and spending between federal fiscal year 2007 and federal fiscal year 2011, a period which includes the worst economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The paper also examines what factors drove Medicaid spending over the period, and concludes that overall spending growth from 2007 to 2011 was driven largely by the enrollment growth that resulted from many people losing…

  • Quick Take: Key Considerations in Evaluating the ACA Medicaid Expansion for States

    Fact Sheet

    A central goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to significantly reduce the number of uninsured by providing a continuum of affordable coverage options through Medicaid and new Health Insurance Exchanges.  Following the June 2012 Supreme Court decision, states face a decision about whether to adopt the Medicaid expansion. These decisions will have substantial consequences for health coverage for the low-income population. The 3 key questions that states should consider in…

  • Medicaid and Its Role in State/Federal Budgets and Health Reform: A Fact Sheet

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet highlights key issues about Medicaid, including the structure, financing and purpose of the program, its role for low-income beneficiaries, its share of the federal budget and state budgets and the significant implications of the coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Fact Sheet (.pdf) Related chartpack: Medicaid and Its Role in State/Federal Budgets and Health Reform