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The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
US states sue Trump administration over demand to collect Snap recipients' private data
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration's demand that their states turn over personal data of people enrolled in a federally funded food assistance program, fearing the information will be used to aid mass deportations. The data demand comes as the Trump administration has sought to collect private information on mostly lower-income people who may be in the country illegally. It has already ordered the Internal Revenue Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share private information with the Department of Homeland Security to aid in deportation efforts. The US Department of Agriculture told states last week that it had until Wednesday to hand over the data for those enrolled in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Snap, which serves more than 42 million people nationwide. The USDA said the data will help it combat waste, fraud and abuse. The states' lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the data transfer. In the meantime, state attorneys general in the SNAP lawsuit said they will not disclose what they consider to be private information of recipients – including their immigration status, birthdates and home addresses – because they believe it would be a violation of privacy laws. 'It's a bait-and-switch of the worst kind,' said Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, in a Monday afternoon news conference announcing the lawsuit. 'Snap recipients provided this information to get help feeding their families, not to be entered into a government surveillance database or be used as targets in the president's inhumane immigration agenda.' In May, the department announced it was seeking the data as part of Donald Trump's executive order to obtain data from state programs to help root out fraud and waste. 'For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data,' said Brooke L Rollins, the USDA secretary, in a statement at the time. 'The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in Snap, and today's request is one of many steps to ensure Snap is preserved for only those eligible.' USDA officials declined a request for comment on the suit. The USDA did not mention immigration enforcement in the announcement or later notices. It is not clear why USDA officials believe the data will help it weed out fraud and abuse. The agency claims the program is already 'one of the most rigorous quality control systems in the federal government'. Immigration advocates noted that the Trump administration has used the same argument to obtain other sensitive data, only to later admit it would be using the information to enhance its deportation operations. Trump administration officials, for example, initially claimed they were seeking state Medicaid data to fight fraud. Last week, a top immigration official conceded they would be utilizing that same information to locate immigrants. Agency officials have threatened to withhold Snap funding if states fail to comply with their demand for data. While immigrants without legal status are ineligible to receive SNAP benefits, they can apply on behalf of their children who are US citizens or those who are part of a mixed-status household. Under the program, formerly known as food stamps, the federal government pays for 100% of the food benefits, but the states help cover the administrative costs. States are also responsible for determining whether individuals are eligible for benefits and for issuing those benefits to enrollees. Immigration and data privacy advocates expressed alarm at the Trump administration's efforts to obtain sensitive Snap data maintained by states. 'The administration has all but told us that their intention is to comb this data and use it for unlawful purposes that include immigration enforcement,' said Madeline Wiseman, an attorney with the National Student Legal Defense Network, which filed a lawsuit in May with privacy and hunger relief groups that are also challenging USDA's efforts for Snap data.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
States file lawsuit against Trump administration over efforts to collect SNAP recipients' data
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration's demand that their states turn over personal data of people enrolled in a federally funded food assistance program, fearing the information will be used to aid mass deportations. The data demand comes as the Trump administration has sought to collect private information on mostly lower-income people who may be in the country illegally. It has already ordered the Internal Revenue Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share private information with the Department of Homeland Security to aid in deportation efforts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states last week that it had until Wednesday to hand over the data for those enrolled in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which serves more than 42 million people nationwide. The USDA said the data will help it combat waste, fraud and abuse. The states' lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the data transfer. In the meantime, state attorneys general in the SNAP lawsuit said they will not disclose what they consider to be private information of recipients - including their immigration status, birthdates and home addresses - because they believe it would be a violation of privacy laws. "It's a bait-and-switch of the worst kind," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a Monday afternoon news conference announcing the lawsuit. "SNAP recipients provided this information to get help feeding their families, not to be entered into a government surveillance database or be used as targets in the president's inhumane immigration agenda." In May, the department announced it was seeking the data as part of President Donald Trump's executive order to obtain data from state programs to help root out fraud and waste. "For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data," USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement at the time. "The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today's request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible." USDA officials declined a request for comment on the USDA did not mention immigration enforcement in the announcement or later notices. It is not clear why USDA officials believe the data will help it weed out fraud and abuse. The agency claims the program is already "one of the most rigorous quality control systems in the federal government." Immigration advocates noted that the Trump administration has used the same argument to obtain other sensitive data, only to later admit it would be using the information to enhance its deportation operations. Trump administration officials, for example, initially claimed they were seeking state Medicaid data to fight fraud. Last week, a top immigration official conceded they would be utilizing that same information to locate officials have threatened to withhold SNAP funding if states fail to comply with their demand for immigrants without legal status are ineligible to receive SNAP benefits, they can apply on behalf of their children who are U.S. citizens or those who are part of a mixed-status the program, formerly known as food stamps, the federal government pays for 100% of the food benefits, but the states help cover the administrative costs. States are also responsible for determining whether individuals are eligible for benefits and for issuing those benefits to enrollees. Immigration and data privacy advocates expressed alarm at the Trump administration's efforts to obtain sensitive SNAP data maintained by states. "The administration has all but told us that their intention is to comb this data and use it for unlawful purposes that include immigration enforcement," said Madeline Wiseman, an attorney with the National Student Legal Defense Network, which filed a lawsuit in May with privacy and hunger relief groups that are also challenging USDA's efforts for SNAP data. (AP)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
States file lawsuit against Trump administration over efforts to collect SNAP recipients' data
A coalition of 20 U.S. state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop a federal order demanding states turn over personal data of people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The states fear the data—including immigration status, birthdates, and addresses—will be used to aid mass deportations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration 's demand that their states turn over personal data of people enrolled in a federally funded food assistance program, fearing the information will be used to aid mass data demand comes as the Trump administration has sought to collect private information on mostly lower-income people who may be in the country illegally. It has already ordered the Internal Revenue Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share private information with the Department of Homeland Security to aid in deportation U.S. Department of Agriculture told states last week that it had until Wednesday to hand over the data for those enrolled in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which serves more than 42 million people nationwide. The USDA said the data will help it combat waste, fraud and states' lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the data transfer. In the meantime, state attorneys general in the SNAP lawsuit said they will not disclose what they consider to be private information of recipients - including their immigration status, birthdates and home addresses - because they believe it would be a violation of privacy laws."It's a bait-and-switch of the worst kind," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a Monday afternoon news conference announcing the lawsuit. "SNAP recipients provided this information to get help feeding their families, not to be entered into a government surveillance database or be used as targets in the president's inhumane immigration agenda."In May, the department announced it was seeking the data as part of President Donald Trump's executive order to obtain data from state programs to help root out fraud and waste. "For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data," USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement at the time. "The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today's request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible."USDA officials declined a request for comment on the USDA did not mention immigration enforcement in the announcement or later notices. It is not clear why USDA officials believe the data will help it weed out fraud and abuse. The agency claims the program is already "one of the most rigorous quality control systems in the federal government."Immigration advocates noted that the Trump administration has used the same argument to obtain other sensitive data, only to later admit it would be using the information to enhance its deportation operations. Trump administration officials, for example, initially claimed they were seeking state Medicaid data to fight fraud. Last week, a top immigration official conceded they would be utilizing that same information to locate officials have threatened to withhold SNAP funding if states fail to comply with their demand for immigrants without legal status are ineligible to receive SNAP benefits, they can apply on behalf of their children who are U.S. citizens or those who are part of a mixed-status the program, formerly known as food stamps, the federal government pays for 100% of the food benefits, but the states help cover the administrative costs. States are also responsible for determining whether individuals are eligible for benefits and for issuing those benefits to enrollees. Immigration and data privacy advocates expressed alarm at the Trump administration's efforts to obtain sensitive SNAP data maintained by states."The administration has all but told us that their intention is to comb this data and use it for unlawful purposes that include immigration enforcement," said Madeline Wiseman, an attorney with the National Student Legal Defense Network, which filed a lawsuit in May with privacy and hunger relief groups that are also challenging USDA's efforts for SNAP data. (AP)
Forbes
3 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Changes In Prior Approval Coming To Traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage
There were two major announcements recently regarding prior approval of treatments and services for Medicare beneficiaries. In most medical insurance, many treatments won't be covered unless it is approved first by the insurer. It's been a source of controversy for some time. Original Medicare hasn't required prior authorization of treatments and services, with a few exceptions. For most care, providers and the patient agree on a treatment. After the treatment, paperwork for approval and payment is submitted to Medicare. Medicare recently announced a new model program that will test pre-approval. The voluntary model program will test pre-approval for some services and treatments, according to a recent announcement from the Center for Innovation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The model program is seeking medical providers to volunteer for the program from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2031. The model will be restricted to New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Providers who volunteer and are accepted will agree to seek prior authorization for 17 items and services, including skin substitutes, deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease, impotence treatment, and arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis. A provider who volunteers for the program can choose not to seek prior approval for a case. There will be a post-treatment review of the case, and the provider will risk not being paid by Medicare for the treatment. CMS initiated the program and selected the services to be covered because of a series of reports showing waste, fraud or abuse in certain areas. For example, Medicare spent up to $5.8 billion in 2022 on unnecessary or inappropriate services that had no clinical benefit, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Under the model, providers will submit the same information they currently submit for payment approval after a service is provided to a beneficiary. The difference is that under the model, the information will be submitted earlier and the provider will wait for approval before performing the services. CMS will select companies to receive and review the prior authorizations. It expects that they will use artificial intelligence and other tools in addition to medical professionals to review the submissions. The companies will be paid based on the extent to which they saved the government money by stopping unnecessary services. CMS said it will manage the program to avoid adverse impact on beneficiaries and providers. There was other news about pre-approval, this time involving Medicare Advantage plans. Pre-approval in Medicare Advantage plans has been controversial recently. There have been a number of recent reports and studies that found the authorization process was delaying treatment or causing patients to abandon treatment plans. Other reports indicated that a high percentage of treatments that initially were denied coverage eventually were approved if the patients or their providers appealed the than 50 major insurers who sponsor many types of insurance plans announced that they will voluntarily streamline prior authorization of treatments and services in all insurance markets, including Medicare Advantage plans. The insurers say they plan to have the new process in place by Jan. 1, 2027.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Senate Democrats demand answers on rural health fund
Senate Democrats are demanding answers over how the Trump administration plans to manage the $50 billion rural health slush fund included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in light of reports that the fund was made to buy Republican votes. In a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, a group of 16 Senate Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted the rural health fund as 'wholly insufficient to plug the massive hole created by the Big, Ugly Betrayal,' but said it was 'critical' that CMS provide clarity and guidance. 'We are alarmed by reports suggesting these taxpayer funds are already promised to Republican members of Congress in exchange for their votes in support of the Big, Ugly Betrayal. In addition, the vague legislative language creating this fund will seemingly function as your personal fund to be distributed according to your political whims,' they wrote. The Democrats cited additional reporting that some of the rural health fund has been promised to regions in states like Pennsylvania that are not rural. The fund will not make direct payments to rural hospitals, but will first go to states that must file 'rural health transformation plans' and receive approval from Oz. The federal government can take back any unobligated money before the program ends in 2030. 'The Big, Ugly Betrayal makes no meaningful investments in rural hospitals, rural health centers, and other rural health care providers, which have some of the most fragile operating margins in the nation, and often are the largest employers and economic engines of their communities,' their letter read. The Trump administration defended the rural health fund this week, writing in a memo that the law 'contains unprecedented levels of federal assistance to rural and other vulnerable hospitals.' The Senate Democrats asked to know when CMS would provide states with guidance on what to include in their applications, how much of the money will go to rural health care providers as well as what the administrative process will look like. They additionally asked to know 'what other states or districts have Trump Administration officials already promised funding from the rural health slush fund to?' Democratic senators who signed the letter include Sens. Ron Wyden (Ore.), Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.), Angela Alsobrooks (Md.), Edward Markey (Mass.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) Alex Padilla (Calif.), Tina Smith (Minn.) Andy Kim (N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) The Hill has reached out to HHS for comment.
