Medicaid

New York has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its new public charge rule, which makes it easier to deny green cards or visas to immigrants who use public benefits such as Medicaid or food assistance. Critics argue the rule discourages immigrant families from seeking essential services, while supporters say it ensures newcomers are self-sufficient. The case adds to a series of legal battles between Democratic-led states and the federal government over immigration policy.

Work requirements for Medicaid coverage are now taking effect, and several states are enforcing them more strictly than the federal baseline. Officials in those states are applying tougher standards for recipients to keep benefits, raising concerns among health advocates about eligible people losing coverage due to paperwork and compliance burdens.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is exploring new technologies to reduce improper payments and fraud across its programs. The agency is looking at tools that could better detect errors and fraudulent claims in Medicare and Medicaid disbursements, which represent significant federal spending. The announcement signals a push to modernize oversight of health program payments.

A new rule in Missouri puts roughly 140,000 Medicaid enrollees at risk of losing their health coverage, and one beneficiary has filed a lawsuit challenging the change. The suit is drawing attention to how the state is administering eligibility requirements and the potential scale of coverage losses for low-income residents.

An entity within LEARN Behavioral has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Massachusetts Medicaid program MassHealth from recouping payments. The case centers on the dispute over whether the state can claw back funds already disbursed for behavioral health services. The litigation puts a spotlight on payment disputes between Medicaid programs and private behavioral health providers.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited a rural hospital in New Mexico, drawing attention to the health care and Medicaid funding challenges facing rural and Native communities. The visit underscores ongoing concerns about access to medical services in underserved parts of the state, where hospitals often operate on thin budgets and rely heavily on public insurance programs.

Colorado Congressman Gabe Evans and Dr. Mehmet Oz visited Greeley, where they discussed Medicaid and toured the new University of Northern Colorado building. The visit drew attention as Evans and Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, addressed health policy issues affecting constituents. Local coverage focused on their remarks about the program's future and the university's new facility.

A new report highlights vulnerabilities in Minnesota's Medicaid programs, raising concerns about oversight and potential weaknesses in how the public health insurance program for low-income residents is administered. The findings are prompting discussion about whether state agencies need stronger safeguards to prevent waste, fraud or gaps in coverage.

KFF's Medicaid/CHIP Monthly Enrollment Tracker provides the latest figures on enrollment across the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs in the United States. The tracker is used to follow coverage changes, including shifts tied to the unwinding of pandemic-era continuous enrollment protections. It remains a key reference for health policy analysts, reporters and state officials monitoring how many Americans rely on the programs.

A person convicted of Medicaid fraud has been sentenced to jail, according to a report from Hudson Valley One. The article falls under the outlet's crime, justice and fraud coverage. Details about the defendant's identity, the amount defrauded and the length of the sentence were not included in the available information.