The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’s (CMS’s) Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services issued a memo this week reminding states to verify program eligibility of certain foreign nationals in lieu of Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) terminations of parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.

“CMS reminds states of their responsibility to redetermine the eligibility of beneficiaries whenever the state receives reliable information or otherwise becomes aware of a potential change in circumstances that may affect beneficiary eligibility,” the agency said.

The term “parole” in immigration lingo refers to temporary, discretionary authorization granted by the DHS that allows certain noncitizens to enter or remain in the United States without being formally admitted under normal visa procedures. 

Long-term care providers have been watching closely as the Trump Administration advances on its plans to remove Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians following a June 25 U.S. Supreme Court decision finding in its favor. Many Haitians with TPS work in skilled nursing, senior living, and home healthcare jobs. The latest development last week saw the Haitians with TPS permitted to stay an additional two weeks to July 24 myzPAX as the court order is made official.

This new memo does not pertain directly to the TPS issue but is related as far as the same groups being put on notice about their parole or TPS status.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.