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More than 58 million people in the United States received health related services through Medicaid, the nation's major public health insurance program. About half of Medicaid recipients are children. Medicaid pays for medical assistance for eligible low-income individuals and families with children, low-income elderly and persons with disabilities. Children receive health coverage through both Medicaid and CHIP, the state Children's Health Insurance Program.
Medicaid is funded by both the states and the federal government. Each individual state is responsible for administering its own program, which in turn is monitored by the federally funded Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Recently, there have been many attempts in Congress to restructure the program, most likely turning it into a block grant. Under a block grant the federal government would pay only a fixed dollar amount of the state’s Medicaid cost, with the state responsible for all costs that exceed that amount. Overall, blockgranting the program would eventually shift costs to the states, providers and beneficiaries.
Families USA Medicaid Center
Kaiser Family Foundation
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