Recession Leads to Jump in Medicaid Rolls Across U.S.
Since December 2007, the economic recession has contributed to a 17% increase in Medicaid enrollment and federal spending on Medicaid has increased by 36%, according to an analysis of state data conducted by USA Today. In addition, health care officials are concerned that physicians will not be able to handle an influx of new patients expected under the federal health reform law. More than 50 million U.S. residents are Medicaid beneficiaries.
- "Record Number in Government Anti-Poverty Programs" (Wolf, USA Today, 8/30).