May 27 (UPI) —
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is stepping up its supervision over states to stop the inappropriate use of Medicaid funds aimed at providing services to individuals who have illegally entered the U.S.
The Health and Human Services Department stated in a press release shared with UPI that federal Medicaid funds are provided solely for emergency medical care to “non-citizens with incomplete immigration documentation” if they meet all other criteria for Medicaid eligibility.
However, some states have stretched the limits by making taxpayers responsible for benefits that federal law does not permit.
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“Medicaid cannot and will not serve as an indirect method to support open borders,” stated CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.
“States have a duty to uphold the law and protect taxpayer funds,” Oz added. “We are putting them on notice – CMS will not allow federal dollars to be diverted to cover those who are not lawfully eligible.”
The CMS is enhancing federal supervision over Medicaid at the state level to detect and prevent improper expenditures via:
- Focused evaluations of state Medicaid spending reports.
- Detailed assessments of state fiscal administration systems.
- Evaluate eligibility criteria and policies to plug gaps.
“Drew Snyder, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, stated that Medicaid resources should be used exclusively for Americans who require assistance and are lawfully eligible for these benefits,” he emphasized.
“Should states fail to comply or choose not to, CMS will intervene,” Snyder stated.
According to the HHS Department, any illegal expenditure of Medicaid funds by states on non-citizen individuals must be repaid with the federal portion of those costs.
On Tuesday, Snyder informed the relevant state officials about the enhanced scrutiny in a
letter
Regarding the topic, “Terminating public funding for unrestricted immigration policies.”
He referenced President Donald Trump’s statement from February 19th.
executive order
mandating federal agencies to adhere to legal standards, prevent the misuse of public funds, and safeguard advantages for American citizens.
Snyder stated that CMS is dedicated to effectively executing the president’s executive order.
“As stated in the straightforward text of federal law… it typically forbids undocumented immigrants from receiving most benefits funded by taxpayers,” he noted.
Federal law establishes a national policy stating that “‘aliens inside the country should not rely on public resources to fulfill their needs'” and “‘there is a strong governmental interest in eliminating incentives for unlawful immigration provided by accessible public benefits,’ ” Snyder explained.
He urged every state to examine their policies, systems, and internal control measures to guarantee full compliance with federal laws for claims related to medical aid and administrative costs.
The Congressional Budget Office in October
reported
The Biden administration’s open-border policies have resulted in taxpayers bearing over $16.2 billion in costs to cover Medicaid-funded emergency services for unauthorized immigrants since President Joe Biden assumed office.
