Hudson, Guthrie Introduce the Protect Medicaid Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) introduced the Protect Medicaid Act, which will help ensure the long-term integrity of Medicaid and prevent federal taxpayer dollars from being used to administer or provide Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants.

“Liberal states, like California, have abused loopholes to provide Medicaid to illegal immigrants at the expense of hardworking taxpayers,” said Rep. Hudson. “Not only is this against the law, but it further incentivizes more illegal crossings at our border. Worse, it puts citizens who truly depend on the program on the backburner. This common sense bill will help protect Americans' tax dollars from being used to subsidize illegal immigrants' health care costs and ensure that the most vulnerable among us can get the care they need."

“Today I was proud join my colleague Congressman Hudson in introducing this crucial legislation that will ensure federal taxpayer dollars are spent on Americans and eliminate incentives for illegal immigrants to continue crossing our Southern border,” said Rep. Guthrie. “As Health Chairman it is my number one priority to reform our health care system and bring down costs for everyday Americans. The actions taken by California and other states can significantly shift the Medicaid cost burden onto the federal government and threaten access to care for other vulnerable populations. House Republicans must pass this legislation to stop the flow of illegal immigrants at our border and not let the American taxpayers foot the bill for California’s and other blue state’s outrageous decisions.”

Reps. Hudson and Guthrie’s Protect Medicaid Actis the House companion to Senator Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) legislation.

Background:

• Despite the fact that current law prohibits federal funds from being used to provide Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants, states are looking to take advantage of existing loopholes to expand these benefits using taxpayer-funded federal funds.
• Some states in recent years, such as California and Oregon, have proposed including illegal immigrants in their Medicaid populations, threatening vulnerable populations of American citizens who are guaranteed coverage by federal statute.
• This dangerous expansion of eligibility could increase waiting times for patients trying to see a doctor or receive critical services, and in the process misappropriate taxpayer dollars towards illegal immigrants instead of American taxpayers.
• Medicaid’s statute already prohibits the use of federal funds to furnish Medicaid care to illegal immigrants, but states would get around this by using federal funds to administer and implement benefit status for illegal immigrants while using state funds to pay for the benefits.
• California has recently introduced legislationto extend Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants by using state funds.
• This practice could endanger already vulnerable patient populations the program was originally designed for—American taxpayers.
• The Protect Medicaid Act would close this loophole and prevent states from using federal funds to provide Medicaid coverage to illegal immigrants. 

Read more in The Daily Caller here and the full bill texthere.