Medicaid in Times of Crisis

In emergencies such as pandemics, natural disasters, and recessions, states and the federal government have used the Medicaid program to help ensure that the nation's most vulnerable citizens continue to have access to essential health services. Medicaid currently serves more than 70 million Americans of all ages.

With examples drawn from several GAO reports, our 2-page "capsule" illustrates how the government and states have used Medicaid funding and services during crises. We offer policy questions and considerations for assessing if and how Medicaid can help during times of crisis.