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As Medicaid Turns 50, Reflecting On Its Impact

Mike Richards
/
90.5 WESA
Healthcare advocacy organizations rallied in downtown Pittsburgh today to celebrate the 50th annivesary of Medicaid and express their hopes for the future.

No politician really wants to disrupt coverage for 150 million Americans who have it through their employer. It's pretty difficult to tackle that issue politically. -Dr. Julie Donohue

Fifty years ago, on this date, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicaid program  into law. Designed as a program involving federal and state cooperation to cover medical expenses for specific segments of the nation’s population, the program has had its share of accomplishments and challenges.

We’ll mark the anniversary of Medicaid with Julie Donohue associate professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Pitt’s GraduateSchool of Public Healthand Vice President for Health Policy at theCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities Edwin Park.

Also in the program, Riverhounds goalie Ryan Thompsonis recognized internationally for his recent CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi-Final win and Elaine Labalmediscusses more must-go U.S. dining destinations.

More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here.

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