California Governor Gavin Newsom was caught charging U.S. taxpayers for the medical bills of illegal immigrants in the state.
According to local media reports, Newsom submitted nearly $53 million worth of reimbursements that the state must now return to the federal government:
NBC15 reports:
California owes the federal government $52.7 million for “improper” demands for reimbursement for services provided to non-citizens, according to a recent inspector general report.
The Golden State required Medicaid to reimburse it for services provided to “non-citizens with ineligible immigration status,” the report said. This category does not include people seeking asylum or refugees. States are prohibited from requesting such federal reimbursement except in medical emergencies, but that does not apply here, the report said.
A review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General revealed that California used an “outdated calculation” method to apply for federal reimbursements between October 2018 and June 2019. Services for which payment must be made are for the use of the state.
“We recommend that California: (1) return to the federal government the $52.7 million in improper claims for federal reimbursements on a capitated basis for non-citizens at UIS, and (2) work with CMS to determine the amount of federal reimbursements for any improper claims, the auditors wrote: “Capitation payments made to UIS on behalf of non-citizens during an agreed-upon period outside the scope of our audit. “
California is one of many Democratic states that not only protect illegal aliens from deportation but also provide freebies including health care costs.
In December, the Golden State became the first in the nation to offer taxpayer-funded health insurance to illegal immigrants. Since its implementation, approximately 700,000 people have become eligible for Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the low-income federal Medicaid program.
“In California, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health insurance — regardless of income or immigration status,” Newsom said at the time.
