July 2015 | Natassia M. Rozario, Joel C. Cantor, Jeffrey Brenner | Lessons to be learned as Medicaid turns 50
This week, we honor an innovator that has transformed health-care delivery in many states, especially for our most vulnerable citizens. It has mitigated health-care disparities and promoted gender equality. It has saved, and improved, millions of lives. It has helped us embrace the idea that all Americans are entitled to basic health insurance. Of course, we're talking about Medicaid, which turned 50 on Thursday.
Despite attempts to cut its funding, Medicaid has become the nation's largest source of health care. It covers half of the country's births, one-third of its children, and two-thirds of its elderly and disabled in nursing homes. Nearly 70 million low-income Americans rely on it, including working parents, pregnant women, and the 10 million individuals now covered by Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.