WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new oversight initiative aimed at ensuring that enrollees in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are either U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or individuals with satisfactory immigration status.
As part of the initiative, CMS will provide states with monthly enrollment reports that flag individuals whose citizenship or immigration status cannot be verified through federal databases, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.
“Medicaid is a lifeline for vulnerable Americans — and I will protect it from abuse,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “By strengthening oversight of enrollment, we are safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring these critical programs serve only those who are eligible under the law.”
States will be required to review flagged cases, verify citizenship or immigration status, request additional documentation if necessary, and take appropriate steps, which may include adjusting coverage or enforcing non-citizen eligibility rules. The first round of reports is being sent to states today, with all states scheduled to receive them over the next month.
“Every dollar misspent is a dollar taken away from a vulnerable individual in need of Medicaid and CHIP,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This effort reflects our strong commitment to program integrity, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring that benefits are reserved for those who qualify under the law.”
Individuals who do not meet satisfactory immigration status requirements may only access limited services in specific circumstances.
