With a surge in the number of immigrants arriving at the southern border and landing in cities across the country, the state of Massachusetts is seeking alternative solutions to address the growing need for housing assistance. Medicaid.
Massachusetts has proposed a plan to utilize Medicaid funds to provide housing assistance and support to immigrant families and pregnant mothers.
According to Axios, the state aims to offer up to six months of housing assistance through Medicaid, with an estimated $2 billion in federal reimbursements. This plan comes as emergency assistance shelters in the state have reached capacity due to the influx of migrants.
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Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts has been at the forefront of this initiative, recognizing the need to alleviate the pressure on existing shelters.
According to reports, some migrant families have resorted to sleeping at Boston’s Logan Airport due to the lack of available shelter options.
“The Commonwealth, like other states, has faced a recent influx of immigrants, including recent arrivals with an immigration status that entitles them to full Medicaid benefits,” Massachusetts wrote in a request to the Biden admin’s Health and Human Services (HHS) in October 2023.
The Motivations Behind the Request
The surge in illegal immigration under the Biden administration has prompted states like Massachusetts to explore alternative approaches to address the growing influx of migrants. In a request submitted to the Biden administration’s Health and Human Services (HHS) in October 2023, Massachusetts highlighted the recent influx of immigrants with immigration status entitling them to full Medicaid benefits.
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The state aims to leverage these benefits to provide housing support to eligible individuals and families.
One of the key motivations behind Massachusetts’ request for Medicaid funds is the potential for federal reimbursements. The state estimates that the proposed housing plan and other changes to its Medicaid program could result in $2 billion in federal reimbursements. These funds would provide much-needed financial support to the state and facilitate the implementation of the housing assistance initiative.
The availability of federal reimbursements would not only alleviate the financial burden on Massachusetts but also incentivize other states to explore similar approaches.
The proposed plan could serve as a model for addressing housing challenges in other states, like Illinois and Colorado, grappling with an influx of migrants.
The Biden administration’s response to Massachusetts’ request for Medicaid funds remains to be seen.
However, the fact that Healey met with officials at the White House indicates that the issue has garnered attention at the federal level.
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