Judge Blocks HHS From Sharing Medicaid Records of 79 Million Enrollees With Deportation Officials

A federal judge temporarily barred the Department of Health and Human Services from sharing personal Medicaid data — including Social Security numbers and home addresses — with deportation officials, blocking transfers affecting enrollees in 20 plaintiff states. The order, issued by Judge Vince Chhabria, responds to a lawsuit by states after CMS granted DHS daily access to records for all 79 million Medicaid enrollees; the injunction remains while HHS provides reasoned decisionmaking. Advocates warned the data sharing could deter immigrants from seeking emergency care; HHS maintains the agreement is legal.