A bit about the history of Medicaid

Medicaid was actually something of an afterthought in the 1965 Medicare legislation. As Moore and Smith write, “There was so little comment that Medicaid did, indeed, seem like a casual add-on. A legislative draftsman said that he could scarcely recall working on Medicaid.” Since retirees receiving Social Security were covered by Medicare, Medicaid originally benefited only recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children, AFDC, the program generally known at that time as “welfare,” and the smaller categories of recipients of aid for the blind and disabled.Although state participation in Medicaid was voluntary, the federal match was sufficiently generous, particularly for the less affluent states, that uptake of Medicaid happened fairly quickly. By 1970, 48 states plus the District of Columbia had established programs. (Alaska held out until 1972, and Arizona till 1982.)The legislation required that states cover hospital services (except for mental health or tuberculosis, for some reason); physician services; X-rays and laboratory services; and skilled nursing home services for people over 21. However, it did not require coverage for medications; dental, hearing or vision services; or prostheses. States could choose whether to cover any of these, and also set income eligibility standards for AFDC, and hence Medicaid. This meant that the scope of coverage and generosity of the programs varied wildly from state to state, but in general, only people with very low in...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs