New Federal Medicaid Rule Requires States to Obtain Proof of Citizenship
[Posted 03/23/06]

Effective July 1, federal law will require all Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) applicants—including U.S. citizens—to prove their citizenship status. Federal law permits only citizens and qualified aliens to receive full Medi-Cal benefits, although others, including undocumented persons, can receive emergency medical services through the program.

Previously, citizens seeking full benefits needed to certify in writing under penalty of perjury their citizenship status, but states are now required to obtain and verify documentation of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. This change was part of the 2006 federal budget—the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005—signed into law by President Bush last month.

CMA is concerned that many United States citizens applying for Medi-Cal will not have these documents in hand (or even at all). According to some estimates, as many as 3.2 to 4.6 million citizens may lose their Medicaid coverage because they cannot produce the necessary documentation. Of particular concern are those Medi-Cal beneficiaries in nursing homes many of whom are disabled or incompetent.

CMA and AMA are urging federal lawmakers to either repeal the requirement or provide a long transition period. Physicians are urged to inform their Medi-Cal-eligible patients of this change so that the patients will have time to collect the needed documents before applying or reconfirming their eligibility for the program.

Contact: Robin Flagg, 415/882-5110 or rflagg@cmanet.org.