Medicaid

Medicaid provides primary, acute, and long-term care to more than 50 million Americans—39 million
people in low-income families as well as more than 13 million elderly and persons with disabilities,
including more than 6 million Medicare beneficiaries. Although Medicaid has traditionally been viewed solely as an insurer of low-income and vulnerable populations, the program’s coverage of public health services and financing of public hospitals and clinics improves the health status of program beneficiaries and the population as a whole. APHA is working to ensure federal Medicaid appropriations enable states to continue providing these essential public health services.