Lessons from Early Medicaid Expansions Under Health Reform: Interviews with Medicaid Officials

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically expands Medicaid in 2014 in participating states. Meanwhile, six states have already expanded Medicaid since 2010 to some or all of the low-income adults targeted under health reform. The brief took an in-depth look at these six “early-expander” states — California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington — through interviews with high-ranking Medicaid officials. While the context of each state’s expansion is unique, early Medicaid expansions under the ACA offer important lessons to federal and state policymakers as the 2014 expansions approach.