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Twenty states, led by California, are suing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over concerns that Medicaid data is being improperly shared with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a California federal court, alleges that HHS transferred sensitive personal health information, including addresses and immigration status, to DHS without proper authorization or notification. The states argue this action violates long-standing privacy protections and creates a climate of fear that could deter individuals from seeking necessary medical care.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta accused the Trump administration of “illegally sharing sensitive, personal health data with ICE,” and warned of the chilling effect this could have on healthcare access. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson echoed these concerns, calling the data sharing a “violation of trust” and expressing particular concern for immigrant communities.
The states learned of the data transfer, which involved information from California, Illinois, and Washington residents, on June 13. They contend that the data was not anonymized and that neither they nor the affected individuals were given any prior notice.
While HHS claims the transfer was intended to ensure Medicaid benefits reach only eligible recipients, the lawsuit points out that Congress has authorized emergency Medicaid coverage for all US residents, regardless of immigration status. The states fear this data sharing could discourage non-citizens from enrolling in or continuing to use emergency Medicaid, potentially jeopardizing their health.