Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
If Legal Immigrants Used Medicaid They Could Be Denied Green Card Under Proposed Plan From Trump
The Star Tribune: Under Trump Plan, Minnesota Immigrants Might Avoid Benefits
Thousands of immigrant families across Minnesota would be pressured to drop out of government-funded health and social service programs if the Trump administration enacts a proposed change to federal immigration policy, state and local health officials warned. Under the proposal, a legal immigrant could be denied a temporary visa or permanent residency through a green card if they use Medicaid, food stamps, low-income tax credits and a broad array of other state and federal social service programs. Even the use of such benefits by a child or a citizen spouse could jeopardize an immigrant’s chances at permanent residency in the United States. (Serres, 8/5)
Medicaid news comes out of Puerto Rico and Alabama as well —
Kaiser Health News: In Weary Post-Storm Puerto Rico, Medicaid Cutbacks Bode New Ills
Blue tarps still dot rooftops, homes lack electricity needed to refrigerate medicines, and clinics chip away at debts incurred from running generators. Yet despite the residual effects from last year’s devastating hurricanes, Puerto Rico is moving ahead with major cuts to its health care safety net that will affect more than a million of its poorest residents. The government here needs to squeeze $840.2 million in annual savings from Medicaid by 2023, a reduction required by the U.S. territory’s agreement with the federal government as the island claws its way back from fiscal oblivion. (Varney and Heredia Rodriguez, 8/6)
The Associated Press: Alabama Takes Comments On Medicaid Work Requirement
Alabama is accepting comments on its proposal to put a work requirement on 74,000 Medicaid recipients. The Alabama Medicaid Agency opened a new public comment period on the proposal. The proposal would require 35 hours of work, job training, education or volunteer service each week. Exceptions would be made for people with young or disabled children. (8/6)
