The state of California, along with 19 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that it violated federal privacy laws when it handed over Medicaid data on millions of enrollees to officials in charge of deportation last month.
According to a news source, the advisors of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued an order last month to the Department of Homeland Security to provide a dataset that contained the private health information of individuals residing in the states of California, Illinois, Washington, and Washington.
In those areas, noncitizens are permitted to enroll in Medicaid programs that can pay for their expenses only via the use of funds provided by the state.
“The Trump Administration has upended longstanding privacy protections with its decision to illegally share sensitive, personal health data with ICE,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement announcing the case. “This decision has been a violation of the law.”
“By doing so, it has created a culture of fear that will lead to fewer people seeking vital emergency medical care,” Bonta’s comment was quoted by npr.org over the course of the investigation.
It has been stated that the information that was provided included names, residences, Social Security numbers, immigration status, and medical claims. This was an uncommon action that occurred at the same time that immigration enforcement activities were increased.
Andrew Nixon, who serves as a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, defended the decision by stating that it was in accordance with all applicable laws.
“HHS acted entirely within its legal authority—and in full compliance with all applicable laws—to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,” according to the Associated Press.
Last month, the state of California filed multiple lawsuits against the administration of Donald Trump. In response to the United States President’s decision to remove the state’s tailpipe emission limits and its push to phase out gas-powered cars, the state of California filed a lawsuit against the administration of Donald Trump on June 12.
The state of California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration just two days before the aforementioned event in order to defend itself from the threats to withdraw federal funds due to a state legislation that permits transgender high school athletes to compete in female sports.
Around the same time, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, which occurred in the midst of huge protests regarding immigration raids.
