Latest news with #EndingTaxpayerSubsidizationofOpenBorders
The Hill
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Medicaid cuts could save thousands of lives
'A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes,' goes the well-known saying often attributed to Mark Twain. There is no better demonstration of this wisdom than today's falsehoods about Medicaid cuts that are reported, repeated, reposted and retweeted, even as the truth gets but a few eyeballs. NBC News recently predicted, 'Proposed Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of deaths.' Other mainstream media claimed similar dire consequences while conflating loss of Medicaid coverage with loss of access to a physician's services. Yet it should be well-known by now that coverage does not equal care. For optimal decision-making, physicians and patients need an accurate picture of reality, not ideologically driven disinformation and unscientific statements bruited by the media and government officials. False narratives and fake news cannot be left unchallenged, and that includes the dramatic claims that proposed cuts would 'devastate our healthcare system.' The Trump administration seeks to make three modifications in the current Medicaid program: cutting illegal immigrants from the program; reducing federal contributions to Medicaid; and adding work requirements for able-bodied adults. On Feb. 19, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14218, 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' which began a process of removing illegal residents from all forms of taxpayer-funded social, financial and medical (Medicaid) support. States like California and Oregon have made more than 1 million illegals eligible for Medicaid coverage, even though federal laws prohibits their enrollment. The House version of the budget reconciliation bill cut 13 percent from the Medicaid budget over 10 years, $863 billion from an estimated $7 trillion outlay. Detractors assume the cuts will come from insurance coverage support, implying reduced care. But what about cutting non-clinical, regulatory spending? From 1970 to 2020, Congress implemented Medicare and Medicaid and passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986; the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; and the Affordable Care Act of 2010, along with other lesser-known laws and numerous healthcare provisions buried in annual Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Acts. During those 50 years, while the physician supply increased 100 percent, the number of healthcare bureaucrats (who provide no clinical care) increased by 4,400 percent. This massive expansion of the nonclinical workforce diverted trillions of dollars from patient care to federal bureaucracy, unnecessary rules and regulations, directives, enforcement, and noncompliance activities. In fact, half of the $4.8 trillion the U.S. spent on healthcare in 2024 produced no medical care at all. The massive increase in bureaucratic spending was matched by a corresponding expansion of the regulatory burden imposed on care providers, both individuals and institutions. Not only did the expanded bureaucratic expense suck money away from patient care, it took doctors' time away from patients to comply with administrative paperwork. In 2024, Washington spent $584 billion on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Presumably, some $292 billion went to bureaucracy taken from patient care. With a goal of cutting Medicaid by about $86 billion a year, removing illegal immigrants from enrollment per Executive Order 14218 would save approximately $10 billion. Regulatory reform such as block grants and DOGE-like bureaucratic simplification should easily cut the remaining $76 billion without impacting patient care at all — unless regulations are more important than people. As enrollment in Medicaid goes up and spending on both insurance and pointless bureaucracy increases, money to pay for patient care goes down. This produces longer wait times for care; the average maximum wait time to see a primary care physician was 132 days in 2022, a 33 percent increase since Obamacare. This inverse relationship – enrollment up, access to care down – is called the seesaw effect. So-called 'news' reporting reached a new low when the leftist website Vox described Medicaid as a 'rare bright spot' in U.S. healthcare. In fact, enrollees are experiencing death-by-queue, documented in Medicaid and Tricare. Patients wait so long for care, they often succumb to treatable illness while waiting in line for care that never comes. Even a one-month delay increases mortality in cancer. Imagine the effect of 132 days before seeing the doctor. Between 2019 and 2023, 20 million Americans were added to Medicaid rolls. Most were not medically vulnerable — they were healthy adults, thrown out of work by Joe Biden's COVID lockdowns. More than 60 percent of these have returned to work, and most are eligible for employer-supported health insurance. When Newsweek warns that 'millions could lose health insurance' with Medicaid cuts, these are people who shouldn't have Medicaid in the first place. Cutting them will release money that can be used for those who truly need a medical safety net. Medicaid cuts could make the seesaw reverse its path. Reduced enrollment and cuts to non-clinical spending could shorten wait times, make care more accessible, and reduce death-by-queue. No one in the media has reported this potential benefit from cuts to Medicaid. Work requirements are also a proposed modification to Medicaid. When work requirements were added to then-President Clinton's entitlement reform bill, the Patient Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reform Act of 1996, opponents emulated Chicken Little, crying that there would be 'blood in the streets' and children would starve to death. They were wrong. Outcomes data 20 years later showed improvement in every fiscal, employment, nutritional and social metric. A full 60 percent were able to get off the welfare rolls. Today's opponents of work requirements are making dire but similarly false predictions. Modifications to the Medicaid program will do the opposite of the left's doomsday predictions. Instead of 'Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of deaths,' the NBC headline should read, 'Medicaid cuts could save thousands of lives.' Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA, is professor emeritus of pediatrics, pathology, and decision science; former director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; former director of New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange; and author of 13 books, including his latest: 'Empower Patients – Two Doctors' Cure for Healthcare.'
Newsweek
14-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Trump Administration Shares Medicaid Data With Deportation Officials: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's administration provided immigration officials with the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients this week, including their immigration status, the Associated Press reported. Newsweek contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for comment on Saturday via online press inquiry forms. Why It Matters During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. Since returning to office on January 20, the president has overseen widespread Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across the country. The administration's use of Medicaid data, which could be used to track migrants, has raised questions about data security and federal government power. What To Know Citing an internal memo and emails, the AP reported that two close advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered officials at the CMS to transfer Medicaid data to immigration enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday. The publication said the order was given after Medicaid employees initially sought to prevent the transfer based on legal and ethical concerns, and that they were given 54 minutes to comply with the renewed request. The information handed over included data from California, Washington state, Illinois and Washington, D.C.—all of which allow non-U.S. citizens to apply for state-funded Medicaid. President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 12. President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 12. SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY DHS employees' use of the data could affect migrants' ability to apply for permanent residency or citizenship if they have received federally funded Medicaid. Under the Trump administration's direction, the Internal Revenue Service has also been providing information to ICE that could help track illegal migrants. A legal bid to block the order was defeated in May. Last month, the CMS announced a review into Medicaid enrollment to ensure federal money had not been used to fund coverage for those with "unsatisfactory immigration status." The agency said the move was to comply with the "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders" executive order that Trump issued on February 19. What People Are Saying Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in statement provided to Newsweek: "HHS and CMS take the integrity of the Medicaid program and the protection of American taxpayer dollars extremely seriously. With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority—and in full compliance with all applicable laws—to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them. He continued: "This action is not unprecedented. What is unprecedented is the systemic neglect and policy failures under the Biden-Harris administration that opened the floodgates for illegal immigrants to exploit Medicaid—and forced hardworking Americans to foot the bill." Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said Trump had "promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. To keep that promise after Joe Biden flooded our country with tens of millions of illegal aliens CMS and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans." California Governor Gavin Newsom said: "This potential data transfer brought to our attention by the AP is extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans." What Happens Next The Trump administration is expected to continue its hard-line immigration policies. It remains to be seen whether the transfer of data from the HHS to the DHS will be challenged in court.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Immigrant Medicaid enrollees' personal data given to immigration officials
The Trump administration has reportedly given the personal data of millions of Medicaid enrollees to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of President Trump's sweeping deportation agenda. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) handed over a dataset on Medicaid enrollees in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C., according to The Associated Press. All these states allow non-U.S. citizens to receive Medicaid benefits. The AP obtained an internal memo and emails showing that two top advisers to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the data sharing and gave the CMS 45 minutes to comply. The data includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers and immigration status. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), in a statement to the AP, said the 'potential data transfer' was 'extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is aiming to deport 3,000 immigrants lacking permanent legal status per day, according to White House aide Stephen Miller. The administration has frequently threatened states that don't cooperate with Trump's immigration policies. Trump this week suggested he'd like to see Newsom arrested over his response to protests in Los Angeles against federal workplace immigration sweeps. The CMS announced May 27 that it was 'increasing federal oversight to stop states from misusing federal Medicaid dollars to cover health care for individuals who are in the country illegally,' in line with Trump's executive order 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' signed Feb. 19. 'Medicaid funds must serve American citizens in need and those legally entitled to benefits,' CMS Deputy Administrator Drew Snyder said at the time. 'If states cannot or will not comply, CMS will step in.' According to the AP, Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo wrote in a memo that this move could violate federal laws such as the Social Security Act and Privacy Act of 1974. The growing tension between state and federal authorities over Trump's deportation push was on full display Thursday when Democratic governors appeared for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing. Last month, a judge allowed ICE to have access to IRS data to facilitate mass deportations, which overturned decades of precedent in handling of personal data between agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Immigrant Medicaid enrollees' personal data given to immigration officials
The Trump administration has reportedly given the personal data of millions of Medicaid enrollees to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of President Trump's sweeping deportation agenda. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services handed over a dataset on Medicaid enrollees in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington D.C., according to the Associated Press. All these states allow non-U.S. citizens to receive Medicaid benefits. The AP obtained an internal memo and emails showing that two top advisors to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the data sharing and gave CMS 45 minutes to comply. The data includes names, addresses, social security numbers and immigration status. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), in a statement to the AP, said the 'potential data transfer' was 'extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement are aiming to deport 3,000 undocumented immigrants per day, according to White House aide Stephen Miller. The administration has frequently threatened states that don't cooperate with Trump's immigration policies. Trump this week suggested he'd like to see Newsom arrested over his response to protests in Los Angeles against federal workplace immigration sweeps. CMS announced on May 27 that it was 'increasing federal oversight to stop states from misusing federal Medicaid dollars to cover health care for individuals who are in the country illegally,' in line with President Trump's executive order 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' signed on Feb. 19. 'Medicaid funds must serve American citizens in need and those legally entitled to benefits,' CMS Deputy Administrator Drew Snyder said at the time. 'If states cannot or will not comply, CMS will step in.' According to the AP, Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo wrote in a memo that this move could violate federal laws such as the Social Security Act and Privacy Act of 1974. The growing tension between state and federal authorities over Trump's deportation push was on full display Thursday when Democratic governors appeared for a House Oversight hearing. Last month, a judge allowed ICE to have access to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data to facilitate mass deportations, which overturned decades of precedent in handling of personal data between agencies.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Trump admin gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials
President Donald Trump's administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data — including the immigration status — on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. An internal memo and emails obtained by The Associated Press show that Medicaid officials unsuccessfully sought to block the data transfer, citing legal and ethical concerns. Nevertheless, two top advisers to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr ordered the dataset handed over to the Department of Homeland Security, the emails show. Officials at the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services were given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to comply with the directive. The dataset includes the information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, DC, all of which allow non-US citizens to enroll in Medicaid programmes that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars. CMS transferred the information just as the Trump administration was ramping up its enforcement efforts in Southern California. California Gov Gavin Newsom's office said in a statement that it was concerned about how deportation officials might utilise the data, especially as federal authorities conduct immigration raids with the assistance of National Guard troops and Marines in Los Angeles. 'We deeply value the privacy of all Californians,' the statement said. 'This potential data transfer brought to our attention by the AP is extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.' US Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon said the data sharing was legal. He declined to answer questions about why the data was shared with DHS and how it would be used. 'With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,' Nixon said. DHS officials did not respond to requests for comment. Besides helping authorities locate migrants, experts said, the government could also use the information to scuttle the hopes of migrants seeking green cards, permanent residency or citizenship if they had ever obtained Medicaid benefits funded by the federal government. CMS announced late last month that it was reviewing some state's Medicaid enrollees to ensure federal funds have not been used to pay for coverage for people with 'unsatisfactory immigration status'. In a letter sent to state Medicaid officials, CMS said that the effort was part of Trump's Feb 19 executive order titled 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders'. As part of the review, California, Washington and Illinois shared details about non-US citizens who have enrolled in their state's Medicaid programme, according to a June 6 memo signed by Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo that was obtained by the AP. The memo was written by several CMS officials under Vitolo's supervision, according to sources familiar with the process. The data includes addresses, names, social security numbers and claims data for enrollees in those states, according to the memo and two people familiar with what the states sent to CMS. Both individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to share details about the data exchange. CMS officials attempted to fight the data sharing request from Homeland Security, saying that to do so would violate federal laws, including the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act of 1974, according to Vitolo's memo. 'Multiple federal statutory and regulatory authorities do not permit CMS to share this information with entities outside of CMS,' Vitolo wrote, further explaining that the sharing of such personal data is only allowed for directly administering the Medicaid programme. Sharing information about Medicaid applicants or enrollees with DHS officials would violate a 'longstanding policy,' wrote Vitolo, a career employee, to Trump appointee Kim Brandt, deputy administrator and chief operating officer of CMS . Vitolo and Brandt could not be reached for comment. The legal arguments outlined in the memo were not persuasive to Trump appointees at HHS, which oversees the Medicaid agency. Four days after the memo was sent, on June 10, HHS officials directed the transfer of 'the data to DHS by 5:30 ET today,' according to email exchanges obtained by AP. Former government officials said the move was unusual because CMS, which has access to personal health data for nearly half of the country, does not typically share such sensitive information with other departments. 'DHS has no role in anything related to Medicaid,' said Jeffrey Grant, a former career employee at CMS. Beyond her legal arguments, Vitolo said sharing the information with DHS could have a chilling effect on states, perhaps prompting them to withhold information. States, she added needed to guard against the 'legal risk' they were taking by giving federal officials data that could be shared with deportation officials. All states must legally provide emergency Medicaid services to non-US citizens, including to those who are lawfully present but have not yet met a five-year wait to apply for Medicaid. Seven states, along with the District, allow immigrants who are not living legally in the country to enroll — with full benefits — in their state's Medicaid programme. The states launched these programmes during the Biden administration and said they would not bill the federal government to cover those immigrants' health care costs. The Trump administration has raised doubts about that pledge. Nixon, the HHS spokesman, said that the state's Medicaid programmes for immigrants 'opened the floodgates for illegal immigrants to exploit Medicaid – and forced hardworking Americans to foot the bill'. All of the states — California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — have Democratic governors. Due to his state's budget woes, Newsom announced earlier this year he would freeze enrollment into the programme; Illinois will also shut down its programme for roughly 30,000 non-US citizens in July. The remaining states — New York, Oregon, Minnesota and Colorado — have not yet submitted the identifiable data to CMS as part of the review, according to a public health official who has reviewed CMS' requests to the states. State health officials from the District, Washington and Illinois did not respond to requests for comment. Newsom's office said in its statement that the data sharing has 'implications for all Californians, but it is especially concerning for vulnerable communities'.
