Medicaid data may be shared with ICE, advocate says

Hospitals should clarify to patients who are considering signing up for Emergency Medicaid that government officials could share their immigration status and address with Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials, according to Sarah Grusin, an attorney at the National Health Law Program. Grusin says she counsels families to consider the need to seek medical care against the risk of having their information shared with ICE. Hospitals use Emergency Medicaid to receive reimbursement for providing emergency care and pregnancy care to people who would qualify for Medicaid except for their citizenship status, including those in the country illegally and lawfully present immigrants, such as students and those with work visas. Hospital representatives typically help people sign up for Emergency Medicaid before they leave the hospital. (KFF News article, 2/6/26)