Data on Medicaid for Immigrants Transferred to DHS

• The Trump administration transferred data on immigrants receiving Medicaid to DHS, raising concerns in the states.
• Medicaid officials attempted to block the transfer, but their efforts were ignored.
• This move could negatively impact immigrants and their access to medical services.

This was reported by Associated Press, The Independent.

In Washington, the administration of President Donald Trump transferred personal data of immigrants receiving Medicaid to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This decision, which has raised concerns in states, particularly California, affects millions of individuals who receive medical assistance through the Medicaid program.

Internal memos and emails obtained by the Associated Press indicate that Medicaid officials tried to block the data transfer for legal and ethical reasons, but their efforts were disregarded by advisors to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The data was transferred to DHS in just 54 minutes.

The transferred data includes addresses, names, Social Security numbers, and medical application information of immigrants from California, Illinois, Washington, and the District of Columbia. These states allow non-U.S. citizens to receive Medicaid, funding medical expenses solely through state taxes.

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed concerns about the potential use of this data for immigration raids, particularly with support from the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. They noted that the data transfer could be unlawful and dangerous to citizens' privacy.

A representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, Andriy Nixon, claimed that the data transfer is legal and necessary to ensure that medical assistance is provided only to those who are entitled to it. However, he did not respond to questions about how DHS plans to use this data.

Review of Immigrant Medicaid Recipients

This step is part of the Trump administration's efforts to review certain Medicaid recipients to ensure that federal funds are not used to cover expenses for individuals with "unsatisfactory immigration status." As part of this review, California, Washington, and Illinois provided details about immigrants receiving Medicaid.

Officials from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) attempted to challenge the data transfer, as it could violate federal laws, including the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act of 1974. They noted that such actions do not align with long-standing policy prohibiting the sharing of information with DHS.

However, the Trump administration ignored these legal arguments and provided the data to DHS, raising concerns among experts who believe this could negatively impact immigrants seeking green cards or citizenship.

Reaction to the Data Transfer

All states are required to provide emergency medical services to immigrants, including those who are legally in the country but have not yet completed the five-year term to apply for Medicaid. Seven states, including the District of Columbia, allow immigrants who are in the country illegally to receive full medical services through Medicaid.

Newsom and other state representatives express concerns that such a data transfer could lead some states to stop providing information to federal agencies due to the risk of misuse of personal data.

Теги: США/Політика