Laurel Medicaid providers billed $66,358 in 2024 for services within the Evaluation and Management category, based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. This amount represents a 27.9% increase compared with 2023, when $51,894 in claims were filed for the same category of service.
Medicaid is a state-administered public health insurance program funded by both federal and state governments. It provides coverage for low-income people and families, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities, making it a major component of the U.S. health care system.
Because Medicaid payments are taxpayer-funded, shifts in local billing levels demonstrate how health care resources are used in a given area.
The “Evaluation and Management” group includes a set of Medicaid-billed services categorized by care type, as defined by standard HCPCS and CPT code groupings. Each billing code was categorized with a single service type for this report, using consistent code prefixes and numerical ranges so related services could be analyzed collectively, avoiding double counting and ensuring accurate rankings.
Evaluation and Management was the third-highest service category for Medicaid spending in Laurel for 2024, following broader statewide trends.
Statewide in Delaware, the Evaluation and Management group also ranked third in total Medicaid payments in 2024.
From 2019 through 2024, Medicaid payments for Evaluation and Management services in Laurel rose by $39,986, a 151.6% jump. This growth accelerated in certain years, with significant increases recorded in 2021 and 2020.
While these services were utilized across Laurel, Medicaid payments in the Evaluation and Management category were focused within a small number of ZIP codes. In 2024, ZIP code 19956 accounted for $66,357, making up 100% of all Medicaid payments for this category in Laurel for the year.
Within this service category, payments tend to be concentrated in a small number of specific billing codes.
Between 2024 and 2023, Evaluation and Management claims in Laurel climbed 27.9%, outpacing the 19.1% change seen across all Medicaid claim categories in the city over the same period.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, combined federal and state Medicaid spending reached around $871.7 billion in fiscal 2023, making up approximately 18% of total U.S. health expenditures. That is a significant increase from about $613.5 billion in 2019, before COVID-19.
This reflects growth of about 40% in just a few years, mainly due to expanded enrollment and greater health care use during and after the pandemic.
Recent federal budget measures during the Trump administration have included substantial proposals to reduce federal Medicaid spending and adjust the program structure. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed in 2025, is expected to cut federal Medicaid costs by more than $1 trillion over the next decade. It also brings in new requirements, such as mandatory work participation and greater cost-sharing, that could limit coverage and funding for certain groups. These changes are projected to shift more responsibility to states and curb the growth of federal Medicaid support, though the program remains a critical safety net for millions of Americans.
| Year | Total Medicaid Payments | % Change From Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $26,372 | 45.2% |
| 2021 | $40,868 | 55% |
| 2022 | $52,114 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | $51,894 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | $66,357 | 27.9% |
| Rank | Category | Medicaid Payments | Share of City Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental Services | $203,354 | 49.5% |
| 2 | Medicine Services and Procedures | $111,191 | 27.1% |
| 3 | Evaluation and Management | $66,357 | 16.2% |
| 4 | Ambulance and Other Transport Services and Supplies | $27,262 | 6.6% |
| 5 | Hearing Services | $1,856 | 0.5% |
| 6 | National Codes Established for State Medicaid Agencies | $375 | 0.1% |
| 7 | Pathology and Laboratory Procedures | $107 | <0.1% |
| 8 | Procedures / Professional Services | $0 | <0.1% |
| HCPCS Code | Description | Medicaid Payments | Claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99214 | Office o/p est mod 30 min | $33,142 | 13 |
| 99213 | Office o/p est low 20 min | $25,423 | 20 |
| 99204 | Office o/p new mod 45 min | $4,940 | 3 |
| 99173 | Visual acuity screen | $2,850 | 3 |
Note: HCPCS codes are shown for context within the category. Category totals and rankings in this article are based on standardized service groupings rather than individual billing codes.
Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. The source data can be found here.
