Medicaid to cover infants of noncitizens

In response to concerns that some babies may be missing out on essential healthcare, a federal agency said it would issue a rule allowing infants of noncitizens to receive services covered through Medicaid.

Newborns of Medicaid beneficiaries had been deemed automatically eligible for the healthcare program during their first year as long as the mother remained eligible. But last year, federal officials said this automatic status would not extend to infants whose delivery was covered through emergency Medicaid. Under the revised policy those infants will be covered.