Louisiana Immigration Reporting Law Reduces Medicaid Enrollment Among Eligible Families
Louisiana enacted a law one year ago requiring state agencies to report undocumented immigrants to federal authorities, which has resulted in eligible immigrant families avoiding Medicaid applications for themselves and their qualifying children. The law applies broadly to state benefit programs including Medicaid. Eligible children, including U.S. citizens in mixed-status families, are reportedly foregoing enrollment due to fear of family separation or deportation. The chilling effect has reduced uptake of services among populations with legal eligibility, creating coverage gaps and uncompensated care risk.
MCOs face lower enrollment and increased uncompensated care risk when eligible children and pregnant women avoid enrollment due to immigration-related policies, affecting revenue and utilization forecasts.
Maternal · CHIP · Managed Care
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