Journal Article Enrollment-Driven Expenditure Growth: Medicaid Spending during the Economic Downturn, FY 2007-2011
Katherine Young, Rachel Garfield, Lisa Clemans-Cope, Emily Lawton, John Holahan
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This report presents data on changes in Medicaid's enrollment and spending between federal fiscal year 2007 and federal fiscal year 2011, a period which includes the worst economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The paper also examines what factors drove Medicaid spending over the period, and concludes that overall spending growth from 2007 to 2011 was driven largely by the enrollment growth that resulted from many people losing jobs and income during the recession. However, on a per enrollee basis, Medicaid spending has grown more slowly than other sectors of the health system.
Research Areas Health and health care
Tags Health insurance Health equity Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program 
Policy Centers Health Policy Center