Practice Management Alert

Question: Do immigrants have any eligibility limitations for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)? Texas Subscriber Answer: Below are the limitations on eligibility of immigrants for Medicaid and SCHIP. The stipulations follow the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193). Only citizens and so-called "qualified aliens" are eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP's full range of benefits. Those nonqualified aliens who otherwise would meet eligibility criteria can receive treatment under Medicaid for an emergency condition only. The Persons Residing Under Color of Law immigrant categories no longer apply. Certain immigrants, if they entered the United States on or after Aug. 22, 1996, cannot receive Medicaid or SCHIP for five years. You must count the income and resources of the immigrant's sponsor when determining the eligibility of some immigrants for Medicaid and SCHIP, a requirement commonly referred to as "alien sponsor deeming." If you have questions about which immigrants are qualified aliens, the five-year bar, and alien status verification, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/immigrants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site will soon post questions and answers on alien sponsor deeming.