Medicaid enrollment flattens nationally, study finds

Medicaid enrollment fell by 0.6 percent in 2018 — its first drop since 2007 — due to the strong economy and increased efforts in some states to verify eligibility, a new report finds (Source: “Booming Economy Helps Flatten Medicaid Enrollment And Limit Costs, States Report,” Kaiser Health News, Oct. 25, 2018).

But costs continue to go up. Total Medicaid spending rose 4.2 percent in 2018, same as a year ago, as a result of rising costs for drugs, long-term care and mental health services, according to the study released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

States expect total Medicaid spending growth to accelerate to 5.3 percent in 2019 as enrollment increases by about 1 percent, according to the annual survey of state Medicaid directors. About 73 million people were enrolled in Medicaid in August, according to a federal report released Wednesday.