Rink
08-05-2005, 06:24 AM
Cracks Found in Medicaid Verification
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
(08-03) 19:22 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
A majority of states don't verify claims of U.S. citizenship by those seeking Medicaid, which creates the potential for illegal immigrants to access the health care program, an inspector general's report has found.
"The quality assurance checks aren't there. That's how we see it," said Jodi Nudelman, an acting regional inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services. "And it's our sense the people may not be aware of that."
Federal law says that, with a few exceptions, a person must be a citizen to receive Medicaid benefits. States can accept a signed declaration as proof of U.S. citizenship. Forty-six states do.
Only Montana, New York, New Hampshire and Texas require applicants to submit documents verifying citizenship.
Of the states that allow self-declaration of citizenship before accessing Medicaid, 27 did not conduct subsequent auditing that would verify an applicant's statements were true.
One reason the federal government allows for self-declaration of citizenship with Medicaid is that it speeds access to health care.
More on this Story (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/03/national/w110129D76.DTL&type=health)
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
(08-03) 19:22 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
A majority of states don't verify claims of U.S. citizenship by those seeking Medicaid, which creates the potential for illegal immigrants to access the health care program, an inspector general's report has found.
"The quality assurance checks aren't there. That's how we see it," said Jodi Nudelman, an acting regional inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services. "And it's our sense the people may not be aware of that."
Federal law says that, with a few exceptions, a person must be a citizen to receive Medicaid benefits. States can accept a signed declaration as proof of U.S. citizenship. Forty-six states do.
Only Montana, New York, New Hampshire and Texas require applicants to submit documents verifying citizenship.
Of the states that allow self-declaration of citizenship before accessing Medicaid, 27 did not conduct subsequent auditing that would verify an applicant's statements were true.
One reason the federal government allows for self-declaration of citizenship with Medicaid is that it speeds access to health care.
More on this Story (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/03/national/w110129D76.DTL&type=health)