CMS increasing Medicaid oversight to prevent benefits for 'noncitizens'

These Centers for Medicine and Medicaid Services announced Tuesday they're increasing federal

financial oversight to ensure that states are not using federal dollars to provide

full Medicaid benefits to people who were in the U.S. illegally. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income individuals and families

jointly funded by federal and state governments. Under federal law, Medicaid is not allowed to

cover people who were in the U.S. illegally, except in emergencies. Medicaid is not and cannot

be a backdoor pathway to subsidize open borders. States have a duty to uphold the law and protect

taxpayer funds. We're putting them on notice. CMS will not allow federal dollars to be diverted to

cover those who are not lawfully eligible. CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a statement

CMS officials sent a letter to some state governments, although it's unclear which ones

In it, the agency explains CMS is going to look more closely at state reports called CMS64 forms, which show how they're spending Medicaid dollars

The goal is to spot any suspicious or improper spending, especially money being used for people who may not be eligible

CMS will audit and investigate how states track and manage their Medicaid money overall

CMS will also examine the rules which determine who qualifies for Medicaid in different states

If CMS officials find any loopholes allowing undocumented immigrants to receive full benefits

they'll work to fix those rules and make enforcement tougher. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan

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