Washington, DC — Last week, Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) sent a letter demanding answers from Gavin Newsom after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found California spent more than $1.3 billion in federal Medicaid dollars on non-emergency care for illegal immigrants.
According to CMS, California claimed federal Medicaid reimbursements for services that are explicitly prohibited under federal law. Medicaid funds may be used for emergency care regardless of immigration status; however, CMS auditors found California used federal dollars for non-emergency care for illegal aliens, in violation of longstanding eligibility rules.
“California just spent 1.3 billion taxpayer dollars on healthcare for illegal immigrants while seniors, disabled Americans, and low-income families are pushed to the back of the line,” said Rep. Young Kim. “While hardworking Americans were footing the bill, Gavin Newsom was galivanting around Switzerland following President Trump like a lost puppy. I’m demanding accountability from Governor Newsom and making sure the American taxpayer gets paid back what they’re due.”
Federal law, including the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, bars illegal aliens from accessing most federal benefits, including Medicaid. Despite this, California spent more than $3 billion on healthcare for over 1.15 million illegal aliens in 2020 alone — a figure that has almost certainly grown as the state’s illegal alien population has ballooned to nearly 2.3 million.
CMS has requested California repay the $1.3 billion in improperly claimed funds. In her letter, Rep. Kim pressed Governor Newsom for answers on when the state will halt these illegal expenditures, how it plans to reimburse taxpayers, and what safeguards will be put in place to prevent future abuse.
Watch Rep. Kim speak on her letter to Governor Newsom HERE, and read the full letter HERE.
