Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program together provide health insurance for 37.3 million children. This report describes inpatient utilization at select U.S. children's hospitals by Medicaid-insured patients. Legislation passed in July 2025 changed Medicaid eligibility requirements. For this report, RAND researchers processed hospital cost report data for policymakers to analyze.

Inpatient Medicaid Utilization at Select Children's Hospitals

Colleen M. McCullough

ResearchPublished Jul 3, 2025

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program together provide health insurance for 78.6 million low-income Americans, including 37.3 million children. This report describes inpatient utilization at select U.S. children's hospitals by Medicaid-insured patients. Legislation passed in July 2025 changed Medicaid eligibility requirements. For this report, RAND researchers processed hospital cost report data for policymakers to analyze.

Key Findings

  • The share of discharges paid for by Medicaid varies widely across children's hospitals, with a mean of 47.2 percent. In addition, 38 hospitals (51.4 percent) across 20 states reported that Medicaid paid for more than 50 percent of their inpatient discharges.
  • The share of inpatient days paid for by Medicaid also varies, with a mean of 52.2 percent; 46 hospitals (62.2 percent) across 22 states reported that Medicaid paid for more than 50 percent of their inpatient days.

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McCullough, Colleen M., Inpatient Medicaid Utilization at Select Children's Hospitals. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4070-1.html.
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