Overview

• Federal law limits Medicaid funding for non-citizens with unsatisfactory immigration status to emergency medical services only.
• CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that Medicaid cannot serve as a backdoor to subsidize open borders and called on states to uphold federal eligibility rules.
• The agency will audit state spending reports, review financial management systems and assess eligibility policies to identify unlawful use of federal funds.
• Any improper spending on non-emergency services for non-citizens will prompt recoupment of the federal share by the Health and Human Services Department.
• The Congressional Budget Office estimated that emergency Medicaid services for undocumented immigrants cost taxpayers over $16.2 billion since President Biden took office.