Law Commons^™

The Administration’S Medicaid Waivers: Exploding In The Guise Of Experimenting, Jane Perkins

Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy

Congress enacted the Medicaid Act with the stated purpose of furnishing medical assistance to low-income people. Medicaid participation is not required of a state, but if a state does choose to participate—which they all do—the federal government will contribute the lion’s share of the cost of providing care. In return, the state agrees to pay the remaining costs of care. The state must also adhere to the detailed regulatory scheme Congress placed in the Medicaid Act, including requirements for determining eligibility for the program and the scope and affordability of coverage. Section 1115 of the Social Security Act authorizes the …