An Overview of Recent Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver Activity, May 2012 - Policy Brief

Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers provide states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid that differ from federal program rules. Waivers can provide states significant flexibility in how they operate their programs and can have a significant impact on program financing. As such, waivers have important implications for beneficiaries, providers, and states. This brief provides an overview of Section 1115 waiver authority, the waiver approval process, and recent Section 1115 Medicaid waiver activity and discusses the implications of this activity.