12 Ways the Upcoming Medicaid Changes Could Impact Your Healthcare Access

4. Housing as Healthcare: Expanding "Community Supports" Funding

Addressing social determinants of health isn't just theoretical; Medicaid is now directly funding non-medical "community supports," with stable housing being a prime example. States can use Medicaid dollars to cover services like housing navigation, tenancy supports, or even short-term rental assistance for individuals facing homelessness. The ingenuity lies in recognizing housing as a foundational health intervention, directly reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This moves Medicaid from treating illness after the fact to investing in the upstream factors that keep people healthy and housed, integrating social services and healthcare budgets.