Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Medicaid enrollment fell by 0.6% in 2018 — its first drop since 2007 — due to the strong economy and increased efforts in some states to verify eligibility, a new report finds (Source: “Booming Economy Helps Flatten Medicaid Enrollment and Limit Costs, States Report,” Kaiser Health News, October 25, 2018).
But costs continue to go up. Total Medicaid spending rose 4.2% in 2018, same as a year ago, as a result of rising costs for drugs, long-term care, and mental health services, according to the study released on October 25 by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
States expect total Medicaid spending growth to accelerate to 5.3% in 2019 as enrollment increases by about 1%, according to the annual survey of state Medicaid directors. About 73 million people were enrolled in Medicaid in August, according to a federal report released on October 24.