The Deficit Reduction Act signed by President Bush in February requires existing and new Medicaid recipients to provide documentation that they are U.S. citizens, starting in July, according to The New York Times. Older blacks, American Indians, and other poor people, however, may not be able to produce birth certificates or passports, say state and hospital officials. “The new requirement will result in fewer people being eligible for Medicaid or enrolling in the program, and that means more uninsured people,” Lynne P. Fagnani, senior vice president of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, told The New York Times. “They still need care, but are more likely to wait until their condition becomes more severe and more costly to treat.” Over the next nine years, 35,000 Medicaid beneficiaries are estimated to lose coverage—illegal immigrants as well as U.S. citizens who can’t prove their citizenship. Others say millions of Americans will lose benefits. The Congressional Budget Office says that the new requirement will save $735 million over 10 years.
