NEWS

US HHS Encourages States to Educate Eligible Immigrants about Medicaid Coverage

Jul 28, 2021

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informational bulletin to states’ Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies reaffirming that the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule – “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” – is no longer in effect and states should encourage their eligible immigrant populations to access public benefits related to health and housing.

Consistent with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) currently applicable 1999 guidance on public charge inadmissibility, accessing Medicaid benefits, for example, will usually have no bearing on anyone’s immigration status. Today’s informational bulletin to states emphasizes that the 2019 Rule is no longer in place and underscores DHS’s call to action enlisting federal partners to ensure eligible immigrants are informed of these changes and their right to access public benefits like Medicaid, if applicable.

DHS will no longer consider a person’s receipt of Medicaid (except Medicaid for long-term institutionalization) as a part of a public charge determination when deciding immigration status.

Age-friendly communities and coalitions may consider ensuring local stakeholders are aware of this informational bulletin which can be found at the link below:

https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib072221.pdf.