Understanding and tracking Medicaid was identified as one of CPM’s 2011 Great 8 trends to watch this year. As 2011 opened, newly elected governors in several states questioned their ability to continue funding Medicaid at the levels established during better financial times. The second quarter 2011 has exacerbated the need for health systems to devote attention to their Medicaid patient base.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) proposes to increase the 60.3 million Americans currently covered by Medicaid by 16 million Americans. States will be required to create uniform eligibility standards (with additional Federal government funding) to help cover individuals older than 19 who aren’t eligible for Medicaid through state plans or the March 2010 waiver.
