States are paying contractors such as Deloitte, Accenture, and Optum millions of dollars to help them comply with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act 鈥 a law that will strip safety-net health and food benefits from millions.
State governments rely on such companies to design and operate computer systems that assess whether low-income people qualify for Medicaid or food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. Those state systems have a history of errors that can cut off benefits to eligible people, a 麻豆女优 Health News investigation showed.
States are now racing to update their eligibility systems to adhere to President Donald Trump鈥檚 sweeping tax-and-spending law. The changes will add red tape and restrictions. They are coming at a steep price 鈥 both in the cost to taxpayers and coverage losses 鈥 according to state documents obtained by 麻豆女优 Health News and interviews.
The documents show听government agencies听will spend millions听to save听considerably听more听by听removing听people from听health benefits.听While states听sign听eligibility system contracts with companies听and听work with them to manage听updates, the federal government听foots听most of the bill.
The law鈥檚 Medicaid policies will cause听听to听become uninsured听by 2034, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.听Roughly听听will lose听access to听monthly cash听assistance听for听food, including those with children.听
In five states听alone,听听for state officials听and reviewed by 麻豆女优 Health News听show that changes听will cost at least $45.6听million听combined.听
The law听requires most states听to听tie听Medicaid coverage听for some adults听to听having听a听job,听and听imposes other restrictions that will make it harder for听people听with low incomes听to stay enrolled.听SNAP restrictions began to take effect in 2025. Major Medicaid provisions听begin听later this year.听
Documents听prepared by consulting company Deloitte听estimate听that a pair of听computer system听changes听for听Medicaid work requirements听in Wisconsin听will听听. Two other changes听related听to the state鈥檚 SNAP program will cost an additional $4.2听million, according to the documents, which for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
In Iowa, changes to its Medicaid system are expected to cost at least $20 million, , a consulting company that听operates听the state鈥檚听eligibility system.听
Optum听鈥斕齱hich听operates听the platform Vermont residents use听for Medicaid and marketplace听health听plans under the Affordable Care Act听鈥斕齮o听evaluate and听incorporate听new听health听coverage restrictions.听
Initial changes in Kentucky, which has had a contract with Deloitte since 2012,听听听听听. And in Illinois,听听will cost at least $12 million.
States Pay Deloitte, Others Millions To Comply With Trump Law To Cut Medicaid Rolls
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add red tape and restrictions for those seeking Medicaid and SNAP benefits. And the costs to update computer systems that determine eligibility for those programs will be steep.
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