Medicaid in Mauston recorded $1,254 for COVID-19 services in 2024

In 2024, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database shows Medicaid payments in Mauston reached at least $1,254 for services billed using HCPCS codes designated for COVID-19.

Medicaid, a government-run health insurance program, is funded through a partnership between federal and state governments. Its coverage extends to low-income groups, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities, making it a core part of the U.S. health system.

Taxpayer resources support Medicaid payments, so fluctuations in local billing help reveal how public health care funds are distributed in different communities.

For this report, services counted as COVID-19–related were identified via HCPCS codes described or categorized as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus”-related in claim descriptions or supporting data. Consequently, totals only reflect services identified in billing as COVID-related and exclude pandemic care billed under other medical codes.

By way of comparison, Milwaukee led Wisconsin for Medicaid payments linked to COVID-19 services in 2024, with virus-related claims totaling $561,957.

Mile Bluff Medical Center Inc was the only provider in Mauston that submitted Medicaid claims for COVID-19–related services in 2024, the data shows.

COVID-19–labeled services were a major contributor to rising Medicaid spending in Mauston during the pandemic period.

Average yearly Medicaid payments in Mauston were $3,192,652 over the two years prior to the pandemic.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, combined federal and state Medicaid spending totaled about $871.7 billion during fiscal year 2023, representing roughly 18% of all national health expenditures—up significantly from approximately $613.5 billion in 2019, ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak.

This represents an increase of about 40% over several years, driven primarily by growing enrollment and higher usage during and following the pandemic years.

Recent federal budgets under the Trump administration have introduced notable proposals to reduce federal Medicaid support and redesign the program’s structure. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” enacted in 2025, is forecast to decrease federal Medicaid spending by more than $1 trillion in the coming decade, implementing measures such as work requirements and higher cost-sharing that may affect coverage and funding for certain participants. These policy changes are anticipated to increase state financial responsibilities and restrain federal Medicaid growth, even as the program continues to serve millions across the country.

Note: Totals include only HCPCS codes specifically marked for COVID-19 services, which do not capture all health care spending associated with the pandemic.

Data for this article was drawn from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. Source data is accessible here.