Medicaid News and Research

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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Cannabis dominates youth hospital visits while alcohol impacts older adults

A large national study analyzing emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to alcohol or cannabis use across the U.S. has found diverging age patterns: Among people who presented to the hospital for a substance-related problem, cannabis was involved in the majority of visits by adolescents and young adults, while alcohol predominated among older adults.

4 Nov 2026

Rutgers study links prenatal wildfire smoke exposure to autism risk

A Rutgers-led analysis of health insurance records found that exposure to fine particles from wildfire smoke during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of autism diagnosis in children, with the strongest associations during the second and third trimesters.

27 Oct 2026

Tenant right-to-counsel program may reduce emergency visits among high-risk populations

Residential evictions are associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly among low-income populations.

21 Oct 2026

Home delivery boosts fresh produce prescription redemption among older adults

People who eat fresh food are healthier than those who don't. That simple fact is the basis of food prescription programs that make fruits, vegetables and other foods free for people who are food insecure.

15 Oct 2026

Extended Medicaid coverage increases postpartum care for high-risk women

Extending Medicaid coverage to 12 months after childbirth increased postpartum health care utilization among women with pregnancy complications such as diabetes and hypertension, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

13 Oct 2026

US counties with more medical debt see higher rates of several late-stage cancers

Higher medical debt is linked to more late-stage cancer diagnoses across U.S. counties.

9 Oct 2026

U.S. hospital closures outpace openings in rural and urban communities

More hospitals across the U.S. are closing than opening, and urban hospitals are closing at the same rate as rural ones, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

8 Oct 2026

New modeling reveals high societal value of early Alzheimer's care

New treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease could provide significant lifetime benefits to patients and society, with even greater benefits when initiated earlier, according to new research from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

7 Oct 2026

Many youth with opioid use disorder miss out on treatment

One in 100 adolescents and young adults in the United States has an opioid use disorder (OUD) and, with the rise of fentanyl in the drug supply, overdoses in this age group have risen sharply since 2019.

5 Oct 2026

Patient navigators significantly improve postpartum care for low-income mothers

While the transition to motherhood can be challenging for anyone, barriers such as inadequate health literacy, unreliable transportation, navigating a complex health care system, limited access to childcare or insecure housing can be the tipping point between a new mom accessing needed care or going without it.

5 Oct 2026

Postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions rise sharply among U.S. women

More U.S. women are being prescribed GLP-1 medications after giving birth, particularly those diagnosed with diabetes, according to new research from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

1 Oct 2026

Millions of Americans live in counties without a general surgeon

More than 15 million Americans live in one of the 1,180 US counties with no general surgeon, and 951 counties have no surgeon in any of 12 surgical specialties, according to a new national analysis announced today at the ACS Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, D.C., and simultaneously published today in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

28 Sep 2026

Long-term endocrine therapy adherence remains low after breast cancer surgery

Many patients with early-stage breast cancer do not consistently maintain the long-term hormone therapy prescribed after lumpectomy, a large U.S. insurance claims analysis indicates.

27 Sep 2026

Diabetes medication adherence remains low among disadvantaged patients

A new study led by UCLA Health found that a large percentage of disadvantaged patients are not taking their diabetes medications consistently.

23 Sep 2026

Otolaryngologists gather to present latest advances in ear, nose, and throat care

The latest treatments and research advances in ear, nose, and throat care will take center stage in Los Angeles October 17-20, when more than 5,000 of the world's leading otolaryngologists gather for the 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.

18 Sep 2026

Persistent stigma creates barriers to modern HIV prevention methods

For decades, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has been surrounded by fear, misinformation and stigma.

18 Sep 2026

New funding boosts data archive that tracks healthy aging environments

With an $11 million award from the National Institute on Aging, University of Michigan researchers will build and share national data that track how neighborhood conditions change over time, helping scientists study how local environments affect older adults' health.

17 Sep 2026

AI-driven health app helps patients achieve better blood pressure control

Incorporating a free smartphone app featuring AI-driven health coaching, blood pressure monitoring, and behavioral incentives into a hospital's existing clinical workflows helps patients make meaningful reductions in blood pressure, findings that suggest that digital apps may offer an effective means of extending care beyond the clinic when incorporated into treatment plans.

16 Sep 2026

More hospitals are adopting AI, yet the access gap is proving hard to close

A national analysis of 6,166 US hospitals found that specific workflow AI capabilities were associated with higher sepsis bundle completion rates and lower 30-day pneumonia mortality, whereas robotics showed narrower procedural associations. Geographic access remained highly uneven, with about 114.6 million people in the access-analysis population living more than 30 minutes from an AI-enabled hospital, although the observational design prevents causal conclusions.

14 Sep 2026

Medicaid ACOs can improve maternal care quality and equity

A new study details how Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations can improve maternal healthcare quality and equity in the US by aligning performance mandates with innovative care coordination and social needs support among patients before, during, and after pregnancy.

10 Sep 2026