Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services received a Medicaid Entitlement Block Grant award of $24.1 billion from the Center for Medicaid and Chip Services (CMS), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Administered under the Grants to States for Medicaid program (CFDA 93.778), this federal funding supports the provision of medical assistance to eligible low-income populations in Pennsylvania, including cash assistance recipients, children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and medically-needy persons who meet income and resource requirements. The award enables the state to deliver essential healthcare services through participating Medicaid providers and maintain compliance with federal regulations governing state medical assistance programs.

As the designated state agency for administering federal social welfare programs, PA DHS leverages this Medicaid entitlement funding as its largest funding stream to support medical assistance for vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth. The quarterly funding allocation structure enables the state to provide timely medical care while maintaining comprehensive records substantiating direct and indirect costs charged to the program. This block grant represents a cornerstone of Pennsylvania's social safety net infrastructure, supporting healthcare access for millions of Pennsylvanians through the state's HHS-approved Medicaid State Plan.