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. Learn More.
Resource
Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) Advocacy Toolkit
County Countdown – April 21, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features the ARPA reporting deadline, a budget reconciliation update and more
U.S. House reintroduces legislation to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy
Two bipartisan bills aimed at addressing the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) were recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
House E&C Committee advances SUPPORT Act reauthorization
On April 9, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bipartisan bill aims to reauthorize critical programs that target overdose prevention amid the renewal of the opioid crisis Public Health Emergency declaration.
Bird flu update: What county leaders should know
As of April 7, there have been 70 confirmed cases of bird flu in the United States, but no person-to-person spread has been detected.
HHS issues termination notices for health grant funding
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters to state authorities and counties with direct grant funding announcing the immediate termination of several pandemic-related grants, which was previously set to run through September 2025.
New funding boosts Indiana county health departments
An infusion of state funding has helped counties support local nonprofits on their way to improving local health outcomes.
Supported Mothers, Thriving Children: Connecting Maternal Health and Child Wellbeing
Counties can significantly improve children's health and wellbeing by supporting maternal mental health through a variety of key strategies. In this webinar, speakers will explore examples of local policies and programs that bolster county efforts to holistically address child wellbeing through focusing on maternal mental health and substance use. Participants will gain insights into local options for addressing maternal mental health needs and substance misuse, learn about the challenges and triumphs experienced by county programs, and discover new opportunities to strengthen their local children’s health services.
Federal Reforms to Medicaid Financing: What Counties Should Know (Part 2)
This two-part webinar series will examine the vital role Medicaid plays in supporting county-administered behavioral health and primary care services.
Ask a Public Health Expert: The Resurgence of Measles
Join NACo on Thursday, May 15 at 2 p.m. ET for a webinar on the resurgence of measles and what county leaders need to know. As outbreaks emerge across the U.S., this session will cover the history of measles, the importance of vaccination, current trends and how counties can respond effectively. The hour-long webinar will feature a 30-minute expert presentation followed by 20 minutes of audience Q&A. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from public health experts and get your questions answered.