Medicaid and Medicare

Medicaid is one of our nation's most important health care programs. It was created in 1965 as a cooperative effort between states and the federal government to provide health insurance to needy Americans, including children, pregnant women, disabled individuals and the elderly poor.

More than 40 million Americans currently depend on Medicaid coverage, including more than 20 million children, more than 4 million seniors, and more than 7 million blind or disabled individuals. Medicaid also pays for about half of the nursing home care provided in this country and helps many poor elderly with Medicaid premiums and other costs.

Latest News

Oversight Hearing on Reforms to Pediatric Dental Care in Medicaid

This hearing will examine the necessary reform in Medicaid pediatric dental care. The hearing will also reveal the findings of a Subcommittee investigation Additionally, Acting Medicaid Director Herb Kuhn will testify on the recent steps taken to reform pediatric dental care under Medicaid.

UnitedHealth Group Concedes Nearly 11,000 Medicaid Children Enrolled With The Company In Maryland Have Not Seen A Dentist In 4+ Years; Few Dentists in Company’s Network Actually Serve Children

After publicly disputing a Congressional Committee’s finding of thousands of Medicaid enrolled children in Maryland who were not getting dental care to which they were entitled, UnitedHealth Group conceded the accuracy of that and other findings made by the Domestic Policy Subcommittee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, in a letter the company sent to Chairman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH).

Bill Will Improve Children's Dental Care Under Medicaid

Rep. Cummings, along with Subcommittee Chairman Kucinich, introduced “Deamonte’s Law,” a bill to increase children’s access to necessary dental services. The bill is named after 12-year-old Deamonte Driver, who died when an untreated tooth infection spread to his brain. In addition, Reps. Cummings and Kucinich wrote to CMS and HHS asking for documents related to children’s dental care in Medicaid.

Alterations to the Guide to Children's Dental Care in Medicaid

A Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday revealed that in 2001, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a contract to update a twenty-year-old guide to Medicaid and pediatric dentistry. Between the draft in late 2001 and the guide's publication in 2004, the document was significantly changed, with major portions deleted.

Oversight Adequacy of the Pediatric Dental Program for Medicaid Eligible Children

This hearing will examine the adequacy of CMS oversight mechanisms used to evaluate the ability of Medicaid programs to ensure children’s access to dental health. Although infallible oversight will not redress the inadequacy of Medicaid administered dental care, achieving such redress is elusive without adequate oversight.

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