Federal spending on health care programs for the poor grew 37 percent between fiscal years 2008 and 2011, new government numbers reveal.
The Congressional Research Office said that the government spent more on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program than it did in any other category—including cash aid, food assistance, education and housing and development. Health spending totaled $339 billion in 2011, up from $248 billion in 2008.
Overall, federal spending for low-income programs totaled $746 billion in 2011, a 32 percent increase from 2008. But state spending on those programs brought the total to $1.03 trillion. At the request of the Senate Budget Committee, CRS counted more than 80 social benefit programs in its analysis, but excluded programs specifically targeted to help veterans.
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