New Medicaid Eligibility-Verification Requirements in Georgia Denying Care to Hispanic Children, Advocates Say

Some Hispanic children in Georgia have been unable to obtain health care services since the state implemented a new eligibility-verification system for Medicaid, in which parents are required to provide documented proof of their income in the form of a W-2 form, pay stub or income tax return, the Augusta Chronicle reports (Augusta Chronicle, 6/19). Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) implemented the new system in December 2005. Individuals applying for the family Medicaid program in Georgia after Jan. 1, 2006, have had to present proof of income before they can begin receiving benefits. Under the previous system, individuals applying for Medicaid in the state self-declared their income status on their applications and could begin receiving benefits while the state verified their eligibility. About 2% to 3% of Medicaid beneficiaries were found to be "eligible in error" because they lied about their income or produced other false information, according to the state. The new policy does not apply to pregnant women and newborns, who can receive immediate prenatal and postnatal care without waiting for eligibility verification (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/7/05). U.S.-born children of immigrants are citizens and are eligible for public programs such as Medicaid. However, according to providers and advocates for Hispanics, many children of immigrants are being denied Medicaid coverage because their parents cannot provide the required documentation. Diane Dunston, a pediatrician who practices at the Athens Neighborhood Health Center, said, "Many of the families are very afraid and confused," adding, "They end up not getting preventive care and waiting until the person gets very sick" (Augusta Chronicle, 6/19).