#045: Medicaid: What Is It, How Does It Work, & Who Does It Help?

Tens of millions of low-income and disabled Americans – including children and the elderly could lose health insurance coverage if Congress cuts Medicaid funding and changes work requirements. Atrómitos’ Founder, President, and CEO Michealle Gady and Health Policy Consultant, Kat Latet, discuss Medicaid’s far-reaching role in keeping both our country’s most vulnerable people and our overall economy vibrant and healthy. Michaelle and Kat debunk Medicaid myths and urge everyone––even those who don’t qualify for coverage to raise their collective advocacy voices to protect this critical health insurance program.

Kat F-M Latet has nearly 20 years of experience in health and social policy design, implementation and evaluation in both the private and public sectors. Throughout her career – which includes positions at Milliman, the Community Health Plan of Washington, the Washington State Health Care Authority, and the Oregon Primary Care Association – Kat has focused on reforming Medicaid, advancing health equity, and developing initiatives that address the intersection of health and social services.

Michealle Gady, who has almost two decades of experience in health law, policy, and system reform, is the Founder, President, and CEO of Atrómitos, a boutique safety net health and human service consulting firm. Positions with the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, where she shaped the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Families USA, and the Medicare Rights Center honed her expertise in health policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and value-based healthcare delivery models.

Key Takeaways

The High Stakes: Tens of millions of Americans, including elderly, low-income and disabled people and children, could lose health insurance coverage if Congress cuts Medicaid funding and changes work requirements.

Medicaid’s Critical Role: As the largest health insurer in the country, Medicaid covers over 80 million people with essential services like primary care, maternal and behavioral health, and long-term care, while stabilizing the U.S. economy. 

 Myths About Work Requirements: Despite political rhetoric, data shows that a vast majority of Medicaid recipients already work, and imposing more work requirements will lead to additional bureaucratic red tape and more people losing Medicaid coverage.

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