Lawsuit Challenges Medicaid Proof-of-Citizenship Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 11, 2006 -- A class-action lawsuit filed in Chicago seeks to strike down a law requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to prove U.S. citizenship before obtaining health benefits.

The lawsuit, filed this week in federal district court, seeks to enjoin the Bush administration from implementing the law, which is set to take effect July 1. Consumer groups fear the law would cause millions of low-income citizens to become uninsured, the Associated Press reported.

Congress passed the legislation earlier this year to ensure that only citizens or qualified legal immigrants have access to Medicaid. The move was sparked by an inspector general's report showing that most states don't verify claims of U.S. citizenship.

Under the disputed law, if records such as birth certificates or passports are unavailable, states can accept sworn affidavits from two people, one of whom cannot be a relative. The witnesses would be subject to prosecution if they commit perjury, the AP said.

Source: http://health.msn.com/centers