LA County Public Health Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidelines for states to implement the new requirement that requires documentation of citizenship for all people applying for or renewing Medicaid benefits. The new requirement will be effective July 1, 2006.

It is important to remember that immigrants who qualify for Medi-Cal services are not affected. All-Low Income Newborns To Received Equal Access to Medi-Caid - Press Release from Center Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (03/20/07)

The following lists fact sheets developed by State and local advocacy groups and websites from State and local organization where updates will be posted: California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC) fact sheets that explain that there is no change for (NILC) and that there is no change for newborns on Medi-Cal.

Fact Sheet on Access to Medicaid for Newborns of Immigrant Mothers

California Dept. of Health Services, Medi-CAl Website: Deficit Reduction Act 2005 - Citizenship Requirements

Fact Sheets:

CMS Guidance on Medicaid Citizenship Verification Rule – June 2006 from the LA Health Action English Spanish
Immigrants Are Not Affected by the New Medi-Cal Law from the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative

Web Resources

Medi-Cal to require ID, proof of citizenship for many from LA Times, February 17, 2007 by Mary Engel
Proof-of-Citizenship Law Concerns Health Leaders from California Healthline 08/01/06
Exemptions Issued to Proof-of-Citizenship Law from California Healthline 07/07/06
State Delays Enforcement of Proof-of-Citizenship Law from California Healthline 07/03/06
Important Notice for Immigrants

LA Health Action
MCH Access
Health Consumer Center of Los Angeles
California Primary Care Association
California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative
The Health Consumer Alliance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

MCAH Programs