Arizona becomes final state to join Medicaid, completing nationwide participation

Arizona becomes the 50th and final state to join the Medicaid program, completing nationwide participation 17 years after the program's 1965 creation. Arizona had resisted joining since inception, citing state sovereignty and cost concerns. With Arizona's entry, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income Americans achieves universal state adoption, a milestone that will be partially revisited after the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling makes ACA Medicaid expansion optional for states.