Help Medicaid by Tackling Homelessness

In a growing number of states, Medicaid directors have come to believe they could save money by housing the homeless. The federal government is providing money to find out if they're right. There's good reason to think this is an experiment worth trying.

The idea arose from two developments. First, Obamacare's drastic expansion of eligibility for Medicaid coverage has raised the number of homeless people who sign up. These beneficiaries often suffer from unmanaged illnesses, which lead to higher health-care costs and put a strain on Medicaid budgets.