CMS Mandates Monthly Verification to Remove Illegal Immigrants from Medicaid and CHIP

On August 19, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced a policy requiring states to conduct monthly verification checks to remove illegal immigrants from Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to limit non-citizen access to public benefits under the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.

CMS will provide states with monthly reports flagging unverifiable enrollees using federal databases like the Social Security Administration and DHS’s SAVE program, with states expected to review and report findings.

While supporters, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, emphasize fiscal responsibility, critics highlight a CBO analysis showing a related House bill could lead to 1.4 million people losing state-funded coverage by 2034, potentially increasing uninsured rates.

A federal judge also recently ordered HHS to cease sharing enrollees’ data with immigration officials due to privacy concerns, fueling debate reflected in mixed sentiments on X.