Study: Careful Oversight Needed for Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver Programs

So far, six states have received federal approval to expand their Medicaid programs through Section 1115 waivers, which permit experimentation in public programs. More states are expected to seek permission to do so. In a new Commonwealth Fund brief, George Washington University’s Sara Rosenbaum and colleagues consider key issues related to the changes in benefits called for by state waiver programs—most notably a substantial increase in beneficiaries’ responsibility for the cost of coverage and care.