The Donald Trump administration is sparking controversy by ordering states to investigate the immigration status of Medicaid enrolees.<\/p>\n
CNN reports that the Department of Health and Human Services has directed states to investigate the immigration status of Medicaid beneficiaries to determine their eligibility. The Trump administration has reportedly been sending lists of approximately 170,000 individuals to some states since August, requesting their investigations.<\/p>\n
According to Kaiser Health News, five states\u2014Ohio (61,000 individuals), Colorado (45,000 individuals), Pennsylvania (34,000 individuals), Texas (28,000 individuals), and Utah (8,000 individuals)\u2014have received the lists from the federal government, and the number of individuals subject to investigation is expected to increase in the future. Additionally, state officials in New York, California, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have refused to disclose or are unresponsive to the number of people the federal government has requested to review for Medicaid eligibility.<\/p>\n
In this regard, Medicare and Medicaid Commissioner Mehmet Oz recently claimed on social media that “over $1 billion in federal taxpayer money is being used to support Medicaid for undocumented individuals.”<\/p>\n
Medicaid, a government health insurance program for low-income individuals, is legally limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and legal immigrants. However, the Trump administration has pointed out that a significant number of undocumented individuals are receiving Medicaid benefits despite this. Oz alleged that California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado misappropriated funds to provide benefits to residents who were not eligible for Medicaid.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has threatened to recoup the improperly disbursed federal funds. However, criticism has grown that the Trump administration’s actions not only place a significant burden on state Medicaid authorities but also increase the likelihood that enrolees will lose their insurance benefits.<\/p>\n
For example, if a state sends a form by mail to verify immigration status, and the applicant fails to receive it or responds late, they could lose eligibility.<\/p>\n
Professor Leonardo Queloz of Georgetown University’s Centre for Children and Families said, “This federal directive to the state is unprecedented in the 60-year history of the Medicaid program,” adding, “It amounts to a pointless immigration status review.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"