Hudson Reintroduces Bill to Prevent Liberal States from Forcing American Taxpayers to Subsidize Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) reintroduced the Protect Medicaid Act, which will help ensure the long-term integrity of Medicaid by preventing liberal states like California from forcing American citizens in other states to subsidize Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

"Providing taxpayer-funded Medicaid to illegal immigrants is against the law and further incentivizes more illegal crossings at our border," said Rep. Hudson. "Worse, it hurts elderly, disabled, and vulnerable Americans who depend on the program. We must stop liberal states from forcing American taxpayers to foot the bill for illegals' healthcare costs and ensure we are taking care of our citizens." 

“Medicaid exists to provide a lifeline for vulnerable Americans—pregnant women, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities—not to subsidize illegal immigration," said Rep. Crenshaw. "States trying to exploit loopholes to funnel taxpayer dollars toward benefits for those in the country illegally are not just mismanaging funds, they’re jeopardizing care for the millions of Americans who depend on Medicaid. The Protect Medicaid Act ensures that federal funds aren’t misused to prop up these nefarious policies.” 

“Working as a doctor in California, I saw that free health care is a magnet for illegal immigration,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We should focus on making America healthy again instead of straining our medical system and burdening American taxpayers. Attempting to provide free health care to the world is not sustainable. Compassion that cannot be sustained is not compassion.”

Read an exclusive story in Breitbart News here.

Background

Despite the fact that current law prohibits federal funds from being used to provide Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants, states like California are looking to take advantage of existing loopholes to expand these benefits using federal tax dollars. Federal 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.

This dangerous practice could increase wait times for patients trying to see a doctor or receive critical services, and in the process misappropriate taxpayer dollars towards illegal immigrants instead of who 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.

For the full bill text, click here.

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