California Improperly Claimed Over $50 Million in Medicaid Funding for Illegal Immigrants: HHS-OIG Report

A recent audit by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleges that the state of California claimed tens of millions of dollars in improper Medicaid funding, which was used to provide health services to illegal immigrants. According to the audit, which was released last month, the California Medicaid program used inaccurate methodology in its evaluation of the reimbursements for resources which were provided to ineligible non-citizens. “States are generally prohibited from claiming Federal reimbursement for Medicaid services, other than treatment of an emergency medical condition, provided to certain noncitizens with unsatisfactory immigration status (UIS),” according to a statement by the OIG....