Colton saw at least $84,661 in Medicaid payments for COVID-19 care in 2024

At least $84,661 in Medicaid payments in Colton during 2024 were made for services billed under HCPCS codes specifically linked to COVID-19, based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database data.

Medicaid operates as a public health insurance program managed by states and funded jointly at the federal and state levels. It serves low-income people and families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities, and is a major component of the U.S. health system.

Because taxpayer money funds Medicaid, fluctuations in area billing amounts highlight how local public health care funds are distributed.

This analysis identified COVID-19–related services through HCPCS codes labeled or described as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” related in official billing or reference documents. As such, the data only covers services directly referred to as COVID-related and does not include pandemic care billed under more general or alternative codes.

For comparison, San Jose reported the highest amount of Medicaid claims tied to COVID-19 codes in California for 2024, reaching $5,601,479.

In Colton, two providers filed Medicaid claims for COVID-19–related services in 2024, with the COVID Specific code responsible for $84,630 of that total.

The average COVID-19–related Medicaid payment per provider in Colton was $42,330, which was below the California average of $52,976 per provider.

Total Medicaid payments in all other claims categories rose $7,919,490 between 2020 and 2024, a 16.3% increase over the period.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data show that combined federal and state Medicaid spending reached about $871.7 billion for the 2023 fiscal year, making up roughly 18% of overall national health expenditures—a significant jump from $613.5 billion in 2019, before the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This growth marks roughly a 40% increase in Medicaid spending over just a few years, primarily driven by rising enrollment and higher use of services during and after the pandemic.

Recent federal budget decisions under the Trump administration have included major proposals to shrink federal Medicaid contributions and revise the program. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, is projected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $1 trillion over the next decade. The law introduces measures such as work requirements and increased cost-sharing, which could reduce both benefits and funding for some enrollees. Such shifts are expected to place more financial responsibility on states and limit federal fiscal growth, though Medicaid will continue to assist millions nationwide.

Note: Totals reflect HCPCS codes specifically labeled for COVID-19 services and do not encompass all health care spending connected to the pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database supplied information for this article. The data source is available here.