Concerns Over Minnesota’s Medicaid Program and Federal Exemptions

Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX) is urging Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz to utilize federal exemptions appropriately, voicing worries about taxpayer accountability, potential legal issues, and the implications for law-abiding Americans.

Hunt, in communications acquired by Breitbart News, accused the Waltz administration of misusing the Section 1115 exemption from the Social Security Act, originally designed to enhance care for low-income Americans. He claims Minnesota is exploiting these exemptions to direct taxpayer-funded healthcare towards illegal immigrants.

“While it’s critical to provide medical care for those in need, Medicaid resources should be reserved for U.S. citizens and legal residents who meet the necessary criteria,” Hunt stated.

The letter, which includes recipients like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, references a Congressional Budget Office report indicating that 1.4 million illegal immigrants receive Medicaid benefits across the country.

Hunt pointed out that a new Minnesota law is scheduled to go into effect in January 2025, which would expand eligibility through the Minnesota Carre program, a move anticipated to cost taxpayers significantly. Although the state legislature recently voted to eliminate the program by year’s end, Hunt believes this action calls for thorough examination.

“We are particularly cautious about the use of the Section 1115 exemption, which allows undocumented immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits,” Hunt wrote.

He criticized the expansion as “economically reckless” and asserted that it imposes an unfair burden on taxpayers and lawful residents. Additionally, he condemned the Biden administration for its inconsistent enforcement of immunization policies, stating that it revoked job requirement exemptions in certain states and encouraged Minnesota to extend compensation for illegal immigrants through the 1115 exemption.

“This inconsistency is unacceptable and underscores the politicization of public health policies during President Biden’s administration,” Hunt noted.

To uphold accountability, Hunt suggested the following steps for Governor Waltz:

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of Minnesota Medicaid registrations using Social Security Number data to verify that all enrollees are U.S. citizens or qualified legal immigrants.
• Make public the findings regarding the number of ineligible individuals currently receiving Medicaid benefits.
• Withdraw the Section 1115 Waiver, which permits undocumented immigrant registration in the Medicaid program.

The letter indicates that failing to comply might lead to the revocation of Minnesota’s waiver authorities, hinting that inaction could be perceived as an acknowledgment of violating President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending taxpayer subsidies.

This executive order, issued in February, directs federal agencies to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits are not extended to unqualified aliens to the “maximum possible” extent. Hunt claims Minnesota is blatantly ignoring this directive.

In an exclusive comment to Breitbart News, Hunt characterized Minnesota’s allowance of illegal immigrants to access Medicaid through the 1115 exemption as not just illegal, but also financially irresponsible and unjust. “Medicaid’s purpose was not to provide healthcare to individuals who were not legal residents,” he clarified, adding concerns that providing such benefits to illegal immigrants could undermine the program for qualified American citizens.

Hunt concluded with, “Governor, sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

This correspondence to Waltz is part of Hunt’s broader efforts to expose and challenge state-level Medicaid expansions for illegal immigration. Just recently, he requested a similar audit from the New York government, targeting Governor Kathy Hochul and California’s Governor Gavin Newsom as part of his initiative to highlight the implications of extensive taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants.