Overview
- The agreement gives ICE view-only access to names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers and ethnic data for all 79 million Medicaid enrollees during standard work hours through Sept. 9.
- Signed Monday by CMS and DHS without public announcement, the deal reverses previous policies barring the use of Medicaid records for immigration enforcement.
- Twenty Democratic-run states filed suit this month, alleging the data-sharing arrangement violates HIPAA, the Privacy Act and the Social Security Act.
- In June, career CMS officials including Deputy Director Sara Vitolo internally warned that federal statutes do not permit sharing enrollee information outside the agency.
- Immigrant advocates and health experts warn the move will undermine trust in medical services and deter vulnerable populations from seeking necessary care.