The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 19 announced its “nationwide push”  to ensure Medicaid enrollees are U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals, or have a satisfactory immigration status. This will be accomplished with monthly enrollment reports sent to states detailing individuals whose citizenship or immigration status could not be confirmed through federal databases, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.

CMS expects states to take quick action and will monitor state progress monthly. Specifically, states are responsible for reviewing cases sent to them on August 19 and subsequent reports, verifying citizenship or immigration status of individuals, requesting additional documentation from individuals, and acting, when necessary, to adjust coverage and enforce non-citizen eligibility rules.

LeadingAge will be reviewing the process for potential impacts on aging service providers including nursing home or home and community-based services eligibility.