Federal Government Pressures Oregon To Hand Over Residents’ Medicaid Records

Following threats earlier this month of a $30 million fine, Oregon health officials have handed over Medicaid identification numbers and other sensitive information to the federal government.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) had resisted handing over the data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since June, but folded under legal pressure to avoid losing federal funding for the state’s Health Plan.

The Oregon Health Plan, launched in 2023, provides healthcare services to 1.4 million low-income residents, including people with disabilities.

Five Other Blue States Are Under a Federal Spotlight

Oregon is one of six blue states, along with California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington, under a federal spotlight investigating if Medicaid funding dollars are funneled exclusively into healthcare for those not eligible for full coverage. (See The Associated Press report).

The OHA has complied with the CMS’s demand by providing dates of birth, Medicaid identification numbers, and Medicaid eligibility tied to citizenship status. This information applies to all adults who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June.

No Names, Addresses, or Immigration Status Have Been Revealed

The OHA did not have to provide names, addresses, or immigration status. Furthermore, the CMS assured the state that it would not share the information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as it is bound by a temporary court order barring from sharing such information.

Oregon spends $15 billion annually on Medicaid services, of which $11 billion is provided by the federal government, which requires CMS to ensure that the funding is used exclusively for healthcare services.