Medicaid Health Plan was initiated in 1965 under the Social Security
Act. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) is responsible for
overseeing the programs and creating the funding, eligibility standards
and requirements for the service delivery, as each state has to
administer it own program. Certain states have even given their own
names to the Plan. For instance, it is called Medi-Cal in California,
and in Massachusetts, it is called Mass Health. Medicaid is not
mandatory for all states; however all states have participated in the
program, and some states have even integrated the Plan with other health
programs.
Most states use private companies to deliver the
various benefits of the Medicaid Health Pla. Some states also pay
hospitals, clinics, and doctors directly. In states that subcontract to
private companies, the health insurance company is allowed to
participate directly in the Medicaid program; however, the price per
person is fixed. Once the pan has chosen the eligible candidates and
recruited them in the program, the private insurance companies are
responsible for delivering the benefits of Medicaid to these people.
Since, there are many private companies involved, there is some sort of
competition, which ensures superior quality and delivery of health care
services
The Medicaid Health Plan is mainly for providing health coverage to
families, elderly, pregnant women, children, people with low income, and
disabled people. Even though all state run Medicaid programs have to
comply with federal guidelines, these guidelines might vary between
states. The eligibility criteria for the pan also differ between each
state; however, majority of states provide coverage for low-income
families with children, certain seniors, disabled people and pregnant
women. Secondly, the eligibility criteria for Medicaid is expanding to
include more people, and hence if people were disqualified before, they
should check the new rules, as there is a possibility that they might be
eligible for the Plan under the new rules.