Adult Medicaid Manual MA-2506 US CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS

ISSUED 07/01/10 – CHANGE NO. 10-10

I. INTRODUCTION

Each applicant/recipient (a/r) must provide or cooperate in obtaining proof of U.S. citizenship. Once documented in the case record, no further requests are made unless the documents become questionable. The purpose of this section is to provide instructions for determining U.S. citizenship and identity.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) mandated requirements that affect all Medicaid applicants and recipients claiming to be citizens of the United States. The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA or P.L. 111-3) extended those requirements to North Carolina Health Choice applicants and recipients.

CHIPRA (P.L. 111-3) requires that Tribal enrollment or membership documents issued from a federally recognized Indian Tribe must be accepted as verification of citizenship. No further citizenship/identity documents are required. Additionally, newborn babies who are born in the United States and whose mother is covered by Medicaid for the delivery are exempt from having to provide further verification of citizenship and identity.