Medicaid Covered Nearly Half of All Pediatric Hospitalizations in 2022, New Study Shows

A new analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics highlights just how essential Medicaid is to children’s health care in the United States. Using national data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Kids’ Inpatient Database, researchers found that Medicaid covered nearly half of all pediatric hospitalizations in 2022.

According to the study, Medicaid paid for 48.3% of all pediatric hospital charges that year—including 54.9% of non-newborn discharges and 44.2% of newborn discharges. The largest share of Medicaid-covered hospitalizations involved non-Hispanic White children (32.6%), followed by Hispanic (28.6%) and non-Hispanic Black children (20.7%). Altogether, Medicaid hospitalizations accounted for $119.5 billion in charges, representing just over half of all pediatric hospital costs nationwide.

The findings underscore the critical role Medicaid plays in ensuring children get the care they need—especially as policymakers continue to debate the future of health coverage for families across the country.