Moving Ahead Amid Fiscal Challenges: A Look at Medicaid Spending, Coverage and Policy Trends

This study examined state Medicaid budget trends in 50 states and the District of Columbia during fiscal years 2011 and 2012, focusing on states' efforts to control spending during a time of economic weakness and enrollment expansion. The study found that many state Medicaid programs were taking actions to control costs by:

• Limiting provider reimbursement rates;
• Limiting or reducing prescription drug benefits;
• Increasing copayments for certain services;
• Shifting long-term care to community-based settings; and
• Relying more on managed care for delivery of services.