New Medicaid rules allow states to set premiums and higher co-payments

A new federal rule gives states sweeping authority to charge premiums and higher co-payments for doctors' services, hospital care, and prescription drugs provided to low-income people under Medicaid. The rule is expected to save money for the federal government and the states. But public health experts and even some federal officials predicted that many low-income people would delay or forgo care because of the higher charges.