In today's episode, we chat with Leo Cuello, J.D., a Research Professor at the Center for Children and Families in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

Leo helps us understand what Medicaid is and the roles it performs as the U.S. largest health coverage program.

Timeline of the conversation:

2:00 What is Medicaid is generally, and then specifically, how does Medicaid impact the disability community, and the services it covers?

7:00 Medicaid pays 60% of the long-term care, covering nursing homes and 70% of the home and community-based services.

10:00 Medicaid is known by different names in different States, and eligibility criteria for each program may vary.

20:00 Home and Community-based waivers or exemptions

25:23 Funding and money flow from the Federal to the State level (federal matching dollars per State vary. According to HUD Exchange, Tennessee receives $1.86 for each healthcare dollar it spends).

36:00 What is Medicaid Expansion? (States not currently enrolled in this program include: AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY)

37:00 Implications of Medicaid Cuts for Rural Communities?

41:00 Misinformation that Medicaid Cuts will not affect individuals with disabilities

44:00 What is Fraud, Waste, and Abuse?

51:00 What does Medicaid cuts mean for healthcare providers? How do States adjust for Medicaid cuts?

1) Change eligibility criteria

2) Change program coverage

3)Cut provider rates

56:00 Call to Action.

Contact your Congress Representative and Senator to tell them what Medicaid means to your family. You can find representatives at the following links: https://www.house.gov/ or https://www.senate.gov/. If you are comfortable with making a call, contact your representative at the US Capitol Building (202) 224- 3121 and respectfully speak or leave a message advocating for #NoCutsToMedicaid.

Names of Medicaid per State

Arkansas Health Care

CaliforniaMedi-Cal

ColoradoHealth First Colorado

Connecticut Husky Health

DelawareDelaware Medicaid

Florida Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

GeorgiaGeorgia Medicaid

IllinoisIllinois Medicaid

IowaIowa Medicaid

KentuckyKentucky Medicaid

MaineMaineCare

MarylandMaryland Medicaid

MassachusettsMassHealth

MichiganMichigan Medicaid

MinnesotaMinnesota Family Care

MontanaMontana Medicaid

NebraskaNebraska Medicaid

NevadaNevada Medicaid

New HampshireNH Medicaid

New JerseyNew Jersey Medicaid

New Mexico New Mexico Medicaid

New York New York Medicaid

North Carolina Medicaid

North Dakota North Dakota Medicaid