Brazil Medicaid claims for COVID-19 services reached $6,770 in 2024

In 2024, Medicaid providers in Brazil billed at least $6,770 for services under HCPCS codes specifically assigned to COVID-19, based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending data.

Medicaid is a health insurance program operated by state governments with joint federal and state funding. The program serves people with low incomes, families, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities, making it a significant part of U.S. health care infrastructure. More information is available from the Commonwealth Fund.

Since Medicaid relies on funding from taxpayers, shifts in how funds are billed locally provide a window into how health care resources are distributed in each community.

For this examination, only HCPCS codes expressly marked as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in their descriptions or related datasets were counted. As such, these totals exclude pandemic-related services not specifically labeled as such in billing codes and therefore underestimate total spending related to COVID-19.

In Indiana comparison, Hammond reported the highest total in Medicaid claims associated with COVID-19 services at $443,500 in 2024.

In Brazil, St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Inc was the sole provider reporting claims for COVID-19–related services through Medicaid during 2024.

During the main pandemic period, services identified as COVID-19–specific made up a notable part of Medicaid’s spending gains in Brazil.

Across the two years leading up to the pandemic, Brazil’s yearly average Medicaid spending was $646,377.

Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services show that joint federal and state Medicaid spending totaled nearly $871.7 billion for fiscal year 2023. That figure represents about 18% of national health spending, rising from nearly $613.5 billion in 2019 before the pandemic began.

This jump indicates an increase of approximately 40% over a short period, driven mainly by more people joining Medicaid and utilizing more services during and after the pandemic.

Recent federal budget measures passed during the Trump administration featured proposals with steep cuts to Medicaid funding and major changes to its structure. For example, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” became law in 2025, with projected reductions of over $1 trillion in Medicaid federal support throughout the next ten years and measures including work requirements and larger cost-sharing for participants, which together could limit funding and coverage for certain recipients. These modifications are expected to increase financial responsibilities for states and likely slow federal Medicaid growth, even as enrollment numbers remain high among Americans.

Note: Totals include only HCPCS codes specifically designated for COVID-19 services; these amounts do not capture all pandemic-related spending.

The information in this report comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. Access source data here.