Journal Article Medicaid's Long-Term Care Beneficiaries
Subtitle
An Analysis of Spending Patterns
Anna S. Sommers, Mindy Cohen, Molly O'Malley
Display Date

This brief examines Medicaid beneficiaries who receive long-term care services using data from the Medicaid Statistical Information Summary files. Medicaid long-term care users accounted for 7 percent of the Medicaid population in 2002 but over half of total program spending. Three-quarters of these dollars were spent on long-term care and 25 percent were spent on acute care and supportive services. About 55 percent of long-term care spenders were elderly and 34 percent were nonelderly disabled individuals. Children and adults not deemed disabled but using long-term services are a unique population whose medical needs should be assessed in light of recent DRA-related Medicaid changes. (Available from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.)

Research Areas Health and health care Aging and retirement
Tags Health care delivery and payment Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program  Disability and long-term care Community-based care Long-term services and support Retirement policy Disability equity policy