The Role of Medicaid

The role of Medicaid has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers have used the program to help people access COVID-19 tests and increased Medicaid funding to states to support their response to the pandemic. Regulators have also rolled out guidance to support access to care for patients in light of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures, including expanding the use of telemedicine. The economic effects of COVID-19, which has left millions of people in the United States unemployed and shuttered many businesses, will put additional pressure on state Medicaid programs. This webinar explained the role of Medicaid in the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists discussed financing challenges of the Medicaid program—the nation’s health care safety net—as more people become eligible for Medicaid coverage and demand for health services shifts.

This webinar is a project of the Alliance for Health Policy and NIHCM Foundation, in collaboration with The Commonwealth Fund.