Sunnyvale’s Medicaid spending on COVID-19 services reached $11,195 in 2024

In 2024, Sunnyvale recorded a minimum of $11,195 in Medicaid payments for services billed under HCPCS codes specifically linked to COVID-19, based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database.

Medicaid is a state-administered public health insurance initiative funded jointly by federal and state governments. It provides coverage for low-income individuals and families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities, making it a major part of the nation’s health care landscape.

Because taxpayer dollars fund Medicaid, shifts in local Medicaid billing illuminate how health care resources are distributed in the community.

For this report, COVID-19–related services were defined by HCPCS codes marked or categorized as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in billing information or supporting data. As a result, the totals only include services with direct COVID-19 labeling in billing records, excluding broader pandemic-related care coded differently.

In comparison, San Jose posted the highest Medicaid payments for COVID-19 services within the state in 2024, amounting to $5,601,479 in relevant claims.

Sunnyvale saw four providers file Medicaid claims linked to COVID-19–specific services in 2024. The most frequently billed service was for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, totaling $10,055.

To provide additional context, the average Medicaid payment per provider for COVID-19 services in Sunnyvale was $2,799, below California’s average of $52,976.

COVID-19–specific billing contributed significantly to the increase in Medicaid spending in Sunnyvale during the pandemic years.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports that combined federal and state spending on Medicaid reached about $871.7 billion in fiscal year 2023, representing approximately 18% of all national health expenditures, up from $613.5 billion in 2019, prior to the onset of COVID-19.

This rise marks nearly 40% growth over a short period, largely fueled by increased enrollment and demand for services throughout and following the pandemic.

Major federal budget legislation under the Trump administration has included proposals to scale back federal Medicaid funding and restructure program requirements. For instance, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, is anticipated to reduce federal Medicaid spending by over $1 trillion in the next 10 years and introduce measures such as work requirements and higher out-of-pocket costs, which could limit access and funding for certain participants. These policy changes are projected to shift more financial responsibility to states and restrict the federal share of Medicaid growth, while the program continues to serve tens of millions nationwide.

Note: Figures only include HCPCS codes distinctly labeled for COVID-19 services and do not reflect total pandemic-related health expenditures.

The data in this article comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. Source data is available here.