What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a health and medical services program for certain individuals and families with low incomes and few resources. The program is handled at the federal level, but each state:

Establishes its own eligibility standards
Determines the type, amount, duration, and scope of services
Sets the rate of payment for services and
Administers its own Medicaid program

What services are provided with Medicaid?

Of what the Medicaid plans should provide, the States are the final deciders on this issue. In order to receive federal matching funds, there are some mandatory federal requirements that must be met by the States. Required services include:

Inpatient hospital services
Outpatient hospital services
Rural health clinic services
Physician services
Nurse-midwife services
Pediatric and family nurse practitioner services
Prenatal care
Vaccines for children
Nursing facility services for persons aged 21 or older
Early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) services for children under age 21
Family planning services and supplies
Home health care for persons eligible for skilled-nursing services
Laboratory and X-ray services
Federally qualified health-center (FQHC) services and ambulatory services

States can still receive Federal matching funds even if they provide optional services. The most common of the 34 approved optional Medicaid services are: