Summary
The Trump administration is investigating Medicaid spending in six Democratic-led states that provide health coverage to immigrants without permanent legal status. The federal review focuses on ensuring Medicaid funds are not misused for healthcare services that these immigrants receive. California, after reporting a $500 million overcharge to the federal government, is a primary focus of these investigations.
Key Facts
- The Trump administration is reviewing Medicaid spending in six states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.
- The investigations aim to find any waste, fraud, or abuse in payments for health care to immigrants without legal status.
- Federal rules allow Medicaid payments for emergency and pregnancy care for immigrants without permanent legal status.
- California reported it overcharged the federal government by at least $500 million for services to these immigrants, risking possible legal actions.
- Some Democratic-led states cut or adjusted their Medicaid programs due to high costs of covering immigrants.
- The Trump administration reduced taxpayer spending on immigrant health care and pushed to remove people living in the U.S. illegally from Medicaid.
- California's attorney general criticized the investigations as politically motivated against states supporting immigrants.
- A federal judge blocked attempts to hand over Medicaid data to deportation officials following a lawsuit by 20 states.
