Medicaid and Counties: Understanding the Program and Why It Matters to Counties
Author
Blaire Bryant
Naomi Freel
Upcoming Events
Related News
As Congress considers changes to the nation’s health care system, NACo urges them to consider implications of reforms that would merely shift costs to counties. Counties stand ready to work with Congress to identify strategies to strengthen our nation’s health system and provide high-quality coverage and access to care for all of their residents while being responsible stewards of local taxpayer dollars.
Download Report on Medicaid and Counties
Medicaid 101
Established in 1965, Medicaid is a federal entitlement program paid for by taxpayers that provides health and long-term care insurance to low-income families and individuals. Medicaid operates and is jointly financed as a partnership between federal, state and local governments.
Resource
Protect the Federal-State-Local Partnership for Medicaid
Resource
Federal Reforms to Medicaid Financing: What Counties Should Know
USDA and HHS release new dietary guidelines
On January 7, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
SAMHSA cancels, reinstates thousands of behavioral health grants
Late on Wednesday, January 14, the Administration announced that thousands of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants that had been terminated just one day earlier would be reinstated.
House passes three-year extension of ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
On January 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits (EPTCs) for three years, sending the measure to the Senate as lawmakers work to negotiate a bipartisan compromise.
CMS requires state Medicaid suspension upon arrest versus termination
Effective January 1, 2026, federal law now requires states to suspend, rather than terminate, Medicaid coverage when an individual is incarcerated.
CMS announces Rural Health Transformation Program funding
On December 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced $50 billion in awards over 5 years to all 50 states under the Rural Health Transformation Program.
CMS issues new guidance on Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements
On December 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Medicaid and CHIP Services Informational Bulletin (CIB) directing states on how to implement the Medicaid community engagement requirements enacted under Section 71119 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act legislation (Public Law 119-21), or H.R. 1.
NACo Public Health Leadership Academy Application Information Session
This webinar will review the key information applicants should know to apply to the Public Health Leadership Academy and provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions.