What is the impact of Medicaid equalization policies for nursing home admissions on older persons and their families, the nursing home industry, and state Medicaid programs? The researchers had three objectives: (1) identify which states have passed provisions that limit the discrepancy between private and Medicaid rates; (2) assess the impact of that legislation on nursing home profits, closures, waiting lists, occupancy rates and state Medicaid budgets; and (3) trace the passage of each state-specific policy to assess the feasibility of developing a model for a national Medicaid equalization law. The objective of the study was to inform policymakers about the implications of revising the Medicaid and long term care systems through a national Medicaid equalization policy.