CMS Launches Nationwide Verification of Medicaid, CHIP Enrollees' Immigration Status

The Trump administration has launched a nationwide initiative through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify the citizenship and immigration status of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees. CMS will provide states with monthly enrollment reports identifying individuals whose status cannot be confirmed via federal databases, such as the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE program, requiring states to review, verify, and take necessary actions including adjusting coverage or enforcing eligibility rules. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized protecting Medicaid from abuse and safeguarding taxpayer dollars, with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz underscoring the commitment to program integrity. The initiative aims to ensure that benefits are reserved for eligible individuals, with those lacking satisfactory immigration status eligible only for limited services in certain circumstances. However, the policy has drawn criticism from reproductive rights advocates who warn it could deter immigrants from seeking essential healthcare services due to fear and harassment. This effort continues President Trump’s broader agenda to restrict access to public benefits for non-citizens during his current administration.