Medicaid (Medical Assistance)

Medicaid (called “Medical Assistance” or “MA” in Minnesota) is the largest children’s health program in the United States. It is a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to certain categories of low-income people, including children, pregnant women, parents of eligible children and people with disabilities. It covers a broad range of health care services, including physician and hospital visits, well-child care, health screenings, and vision and dental care with few costs paid by the family. Nationally, children make up half of all Medicaid enrollees but account for less than 20 percent of the costs.

Approximately 40 percent of Children Minnesota patients (higher in some primary care settings) rely on Medicaid for health care coverage. The average adult hospital receives only about 10 percent of their revenue from Medicaid. So when hospitals face across the board cuts to Medicaid, those cuts disproportionately impact Children’s and child health care. Even though Medicaid only covers a portion of the cost to provide care, without this funding we would be unable to provide services to the thousands of children we see each year that rely on this program.