The agency announced on Tuesday its new plan to verify enrollees’ immigration status to help states maintain program integrity and protect taxpayer money.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said the oversight initiative will ensure that enrollees in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are either citizens of the United States, U.S. nationals, or have a satisfactory immigration status.
As part of the initiative, beginning Tuesday, CMS will provide states with monthly enrollment reports that identify individuals whose citizenship or immigration status could not be confirmed through federal databases, such as the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.
It’s up to states to review cases, verify the citizenship or immigration status of identified individuals, request additional documentation if needed, and take appropriate actions when necessary, including adjusting coverage or enforcing non-citizen eligibility rules. Individuals without satisfactory immigration status may only receive limited services in certain circumstances.
CMS sent the first set of reports to states on Tuesday, with all states receiving a report over the course of a month. The agency said it expects states to take quick action and will monitor progress each month.
"Every dollar misspent is a dollar taken away from an eligible, vulnerable individual in need of Medicaid and CHIP," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in the announcement. "This action underscores our unwavering commitment to program integrity, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and ensuring benefits are strictly reserved for those eligible under the law."