State Medicaid Links Other Medicaid Links

Murphy's Page A Resource Guide to Medicaid -- America's Medical Assistance Program

ATTENTION: Links and info on this site will be updated sporadically. Last updated: 3/14/09

       Medicaid, sometimes called Medical Assistance, is a health care program for poor and disabled Americans (mostly uninsured) begun in the mid-60's.  It was authorized under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.  Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is administered by each state, although funded in part by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  No two states' Medicaid programs are alike, yet there are certain federally mandated standards common to all Medicaid programs across the nation.

       In order to receive federal matching funds, each state must provide a certain core set of services and cover specific groups of individuals.  Beyond these requirements, there are other services and eligibility groups that states may cover at their option.   Some states also have chosen to extend eligibility to additional groups that are not eligible for federal financial participation.

       Even for required services, however, states have some discretion in setting limits on the amount of any given service available to its beneficiaries.  States also have a certain amount of freedom in setting reimbursement rates paid to most of the providers of Medicaid covered services.

       The federal government, through CMS, provides partial funding to the states for their Medicaid programs.   Medicaid expenditures for services are paid from state funds (referred to as state share) and from federal matching dollars.  The federal matching rate varies from state to state, but is never less than 50% nor more than 78%. (Click here for a TABLE of federal matching rates for the states.)  The formula used to determine the federal matching rate for any given state is based primarily on its median income level in relation to that for the nation.  Theoretically, states with a larger proportion of their population at low income levels will get a higher federal match than states with a smaller proportion of low income individuals.

       If you are interested in statistical, descriptive, and summary data for Medicaid programs in states not listed below, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) site is a good source for state-specific data.   This site also provides general information about the Medicaid program and its history.

Links to State Medicaid sites on the Web:

Alabama Medicaid Alaska Medicaid Arizona Medicaid Arkansas Medicaid California Medicaid Colorado Medicaid Connecticut Medicaid Delaware Medicaid District of Columbia Medicaid Florida Medicaid Georgia Medicaid Hawaii Medicaid  Idaho Medicaid Illinois Medicaid Indiana Medicaid Iowa Medicaid Kansas Medicaid Kentucky Medicaid Louisiana Medicaid Maine Medicaid Maryland Medicaid Massachusetts Medicaid Michigan Medicaid Minnesota Medicaid Mississippi Medicaid Missouri Medicaid Montana Medicaid Nebraska Medicaid Nevada Medicaid New Hampshire Medicaid New Jersey Medicaid New Mexico Medicaid New York Medicaid North Carolina Medicaid

North Dakota Medicaid Ohio Medicaid Oklahoma Medicaid Oregon Medicaid Pennsylvania Medicaid Rhode Island Medicaid South Carolina Medicaid South Dakota Medicaid Tennessee Medicaid Texas Medicaid Utah Medicaid Vermont Medicaid Virginia Medicaid Washington State Medicaid West Virginia Medicaid Wisconsin Medicaid Wyoming Medicaid

Links to other Medicaid-related sites:

U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)   The federal agency that dispenses money and regulations to the states for their Medicaid programs. A good source of national statistics and policy on Medicaid.

Intergovernmental Health Policy Project   A very good source of information and links.

Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid   A list of excellent publications.

Families USA   A national health care consumer group. This site is the most thorough and exhaustive source of Medicaid information and links on the net. A truly remarkable resource.

National Assn. of State Medicaid Directors   Maintained by the American Public Human Services Association, this site offers the perspective from the states.

National Health Law Program   Provides an analysis of proposed and current Medicaid legislation and regulations.

The Urban Institute   This policy research organization provides reports and analyses of Medicaid-related issues.

Fiscal Agents   A list maintained by CMS of the fiscal agent for each state Medicaid program. A fiscal agent is contracted to process claims and usually has other responsibilities delegated by the state.

                      © 1996-2009 Mike Murphy

Last updated: March 14, 2009

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