Access to Care

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide critical health coverage for millions of people. Through these programs, CMS supports access to care in several ways. First and foremost, providing health coverage allows individuals to access health care services that may not be affordable without Medicaid or CHIP. Additionally, some programs and benefits under Medicaid and CHIP include special protections to ensure services are accessible, such as provider network standards, payment methodologies, and other protections. CMS acknowledges the importance of using services, including preventative care, to help people stay healthy and avoid more costly care and has developed resources and materials to help Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries understand the importance of these services and learn how to access them. To understand and ensure progress, CMS supports a variety of efforts to measure access and report the results. Learn more about topics related to access below.