Immigration and Medicaid Policy

The Department of Homeland Security pointed to new California data showing Medicaid-funded ambulance reimbursement rising from $339 per transport in 2022 to $1,168 in 2024, with state requests to CMS to increase rates to $1,597 in 2025 and $1,637 in 2026. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said DHS and CMS are exploring an initiative to ensure undocumented immigrants are not receiving Medicaid benefits, while California has already moved to freeze new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented adults in 2026 and to charge a $30 monthly premium to those already enrolled starting July 2027.