Maryland Court Reverses Order To Reinstate Medicaid for Immigrant Children

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals on Tuesday stayed an order issued earlier this month by Montgomery County, Md., Circuit Court to reinstate Medicaid for some immigrant children, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports (AP/Baltimore Sun, 1/24). Circuit Judge Durke Thompson on Jan. 12 granted a preliminary injunction to reinstate health benefits for the 13 immigrant children whose families filed a lawsuit alleging that Maryland discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by cutting a $7 million Medicaid program that provided health benefits for pregnant women and about 4,000 children who are legal, permanent residents. Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) later reinstated coverage for pregnant women enrolled in the program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 1/23). The Ehrlich administration appealed the circuit court decision. Following the latest court order, attorneys for the children have until Feb. 2 to respond with written arguments on why the lower court ruling should not be delayed (AP/Baltimore Sun, 1/24).