Linden Medicaid claims for COVID-19 services top $530,000 in 2024

In 2024, Medicaid payments in Linden reached at least $530,742 for services billed under HCPCS codes specifically associated with COVID-19, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database shows.

Medicaid, a public health insurance program managed by states with joint federal and state funding, covers low-income people, seniors, children, and those with disabilities, representing a major part of the U.S. health care system. Learn more about Medicaid funding here.

Because taxpayer dollars fund Medicaid, fluctuations in local billing reflect shifts in how public health care funding is distributed within communities.

COVID-19–related services were identified using HCPCS codes labeled as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in billing descriptions or reference data. Therefore, these figures only include services explicitly labeled as COVID-related and do not account for services related to the pandemic that might be billed under other medical codes.

For comparison, Clifton had the highest Medicaid payments tied to COVID-19 services in New Jersey in 2024, with virus-related claims totaling $1,725,516.

In Linden, three providers submitted Medicaid claims for COVID-19–related services in 2024. The most frequently billed code, COVID Specific, totaled $511,500.

The average Medicaid payment per provider for COVID-19–related services in Linden was $176,914, which is higher than the state average of $33,367.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, combined state and federal Medicaid spending was about $871.7 billion in fiscal year 2023. This made up roughly 18% of national health expenditures, a significant increase from $613.5 billion in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

This rise, largely due to expanded enrollment and increased utilization during and after the pandemic, marks nearly 40% growth over a few years.

Recent federal budget measures under the Trump administration have included major proposals to reduce federal Medicaid funding and alter program structure. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed in 2025, is set to cut more than $1 trillion in federal Medicaid spending over the next decade, introducing work requirements and increased cost-sharing that could limit coverage and available funds for some recipients. These changes are expected to shift more costs to states and slow federal Medicaid spending growth, though the program still serves tens of millions of Americans.

Note: Includes HCPCS codes specifically designated for COVID-19 services; totals exclude all other pandemic-related health care spending.

Information in this story comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. Source data is available here.