California Weekly Roundup: The Search for Undocumented Medicaid Enrollees

CalFresh rules; the race for California governor; LVN to RN Step-Up Program; homeless shelters close; special education reform; folic acid in tortillas; boy battles rare leukemia; and more ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

Not a subscriber? Sign Up Wednesday, April 01, 2026 Visit KFF Health News for the latest California headlines California Weekly Roundup THIS WEEK'S FEATURE Trump's Hunt for Undocumented Medicaid Enrollees Yields Few Violators (ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS) By Phil Galewitz   Last August, as part of the federal government's crackdown on people in the country illegally, the Trump administration sent states the names of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees with orders to determine whether they were ineligible based on immigration status.   But seven months later, findings from five states shared with KFF Health News show that the reviews have uncovered little evidence of a widespread problem.   Only U.S. citizens and some lawfully present immigrants are eligible for Medicaid, which covers health care costs for people with low incomes and disabilities, and the closely related Children's Health Insurance Program. Both programs are administered by states.   CMS spokesperson Chris Krepich said in a statement to KFF Health News that the ongoing checks are verifying eligibility "for certain enrollees whose status could not be confirmed through federal data sources."   "CMS provides states with regular reports for follow-up review, and states are responsible for independently verifying eligibility and taking appropriate action consistent with federal requirements," he said.   But the findings shared with KFF Health News also suggest that many of the enrollees whose eligibility the Trump administration said it could not confirm are indeed U.S. citizens. Read the full story.    More from KFF Health News —    'They Tricked Me': A Father Was Chained After He Went to ICE To Reunite With His Kids  By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Renuka Rayasam, and Amanda Seitz  The administration has largely converted the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement into an arm of immigration enforcement, detaining children longer while helping immigration officers arrest their parents or other family members. One father was chained when he went to an ICE office to discuss being reunited with his son and daughter. Read the full story.  Follow us online for more KFF Health News coverage: Top Health Headlines From Around California Immigration Crisis KQED: Thousands Of Immigrants Will Lose Access To CalFresh On April 1. Here's What To Know  Starting Wednesday, tens of thousands of humanitarian immigrants across California will no longer be eligible for food assistance through SNAP. (Khan, 4/1)   The Fresno Bee: After Complaints, Physician Ordered To Oversee Medical Care At CA's Largest ICE Center  A physician experienced at auditing federal detention facilities has been appointed by a federal district judge to monitor health care delivery at California's largest ICE detention facility. (Montalvo, 3/31)   Los Angeles Times: As Fourth Man Dies At Adelanto ICE Detention Center, Mexican Officials Call For Investigation Four Mexican nationals have died at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, which is facing a federal class-action lawsuit. (Mejia and Vives, 3/30)   San Francisco Chronicle: Private Health Data Still Being Given To ICE, California Says The Trump administration doesn't appear to be denying it. (Egelko, 3/30)   San Francisco Chronicle: The San Francisco Immigration Court Is Being Dismantled Staffing of the San Francisco immigration court has been decimated over the past year — and removal orders have spiked. (Leonard, 3/30) Politics The Orange County Register: Xavier Becerra Leans Into His Health Care Background While Campaigning For Governor In Orange County  Xavier Becerra says he wants to be the "health care governor" for California. To do that, he's barnstorming the state. (Schallhorn, 3/31)   Los Angeles Times: Demonstrators Arrested, Tear Gassed At 'No Kings' Protest  More than 70 protesters were arrested Saturday after authorities shot tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd, according to demonstrators and police. (Sheets and Tchekmedyian, 3/29) Health Industry and Pharmaceuticals USA Today Network: College Of The Siskiyous Reopens RN Program For Vocational Nurses College of the Siskiyous says it's reopening its LVN to RN Step-Up Program, with classes set to begin in July. (Skropanic, 3/31)   Los Angeles Times: Kaiser Made $9.3 Billion Last Year. Critics Say It Has Strayed From Its Charitable Mission  Kaiser Permanente has veered from its charitable mission and is now scarcely distinguishable from a corporation keenly focused on its bottom line, according to critics. (Petersen, 3/29)   Capitol Weekly: CIRM Gets First Approval Of A One-And-Done Gene Therapy  The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has received federal approval for a medical therapy for an immune disorder called LAD-1. (Jensen, 3/31)   Bloomberg: Elizabeth Holmes Gets A Year Knocked Off Her Prison Sentence  The disgraced founder of the Palo Alto company Theranos got a year knocked off her 11 1/4-year prison term. (Hurtado and Blumberg, 3/26) Housing The Oaklandside: As 3 Oakland Homeless Shelters Close, Outcomes In Question A West Oakland "community cabin" site and 71st Avenue RV lot are shutting down. A hotel is undergoing a planned conversion to affordable housing. (Orenstein, 3/31)   Bay Area News Group: Half Moon Bay Defends Housing Record After Newsom's 'Final Warning'  Half Moon Bay says it has built 144 units since 2023, nearing a third of its housing target. (Macasero, 3/31)   Santa Monica Daily Press: Santa Monica Opens Berkeley Station Modular Housing Berkeley Station is the city's first modular affordable housing development, offering 13 affordable apartments for low-income families and young adults facing housing insecurity. (Hall, 3/31)   inewsource: Emergency Housing Voucher Funds Running Out In San Diego More than 650 San Diego households that were promised rental assistance through 2030 during the covid pandemic have to look for a new place to live because their federal funding has run out years ahead of schedule. (Kincaid, 4/1)   Bloomberg: In LA And SF, Urban Alchemy Offers An Unorthodox Fix For Homelessness  In recent years, Urban Alchemy has emerged as a kind of Hail Mary solution for cities struggling with homelessness. (Sisson, 3/31) Education The Fresno Bee: Fresno Unified Retirees Sue Over Medicare Advantage Change  Fresno Unified retirees filed a class action lawsuit against the school district, alleging it caused serious harm to retirees' health and well-being. (Zhong, 3/31)   EdSource: New Bill Proposes Reforming Special Education By Empowering California Families Proponents say parents and students with disabilities need to have a stronger voice at the state level. (Gallegos, 3/26)   KVPR: Transitional Kindergarten Offers Special Needs Support. Rural Schools Struggle To Offer It. Some rural school districts say they have to stretch already existing resources to make ends meet. (Livinal, 3/26) Public Health USA Today: Folic Acid Now Required In Masa Flour, Corn Tortillas In California The move to require folic acid in corn masa aims to particularly benefit Latina women, who are less likely to take it early on in pregnancy. (Moniuszko, 3/31)   Los Angeles Times: Californian Chocolate Recalled For Being Spiked With Viagra Ingredients  Two chocolate products, marketed for sexual enhancement, were found to contain active ingredients used to treat erectile dysfunction. (Luna, 3/30)   Santa Monica Daily Press: UCLA Heat Maps Reveal Stark Disparities In Who Suffers Most During Extreme Heat Heat maps developed by the UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions show that ER visits during heat events cluster disproportionately in lower-income communities with less tree cover. (Alin, 3/30) Other California News The Oaklandside: AC Transit Plans Healthcare Cost Cut — And Unions Push Back Bus drivers, mechanics, and other transit workers showed up in force to oppose a change to their health plans they fear will drive up costs. (Fermoso, 3/26)   The San Diego Union-Tribune: 'The Status Quo Isn't Acceptable': How A San Diego Lawmaker Aims To Help The Hardest-To-Reach People With Mental Illness  Sen. Catherine Blakespear's bill, SB 1016, would broaden access to court-ordered assessments and reach people who advocates say are slipping through the cracks. (Davis and Sisson, 3/29)   KVPR: Justice Department Probing Housing Of Trans Women At Prisons, Including In Madera County The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether California and Maine violate female inmates' rights by housing them with transgender women. (Har, 3/27)   The San Diego Union-Tribune: 'Please Help Me' Were His Last Words, Uttered In A Jail Cell And Ignored By A Deputy. He Died Hours Later.  "I can't breathe," said Bobby Ray Patton Jr., who was being treated for pneumonia. "I'm having chest pain so bad." (McDonald and Davis, 4/1)   The Modesto Bee: Stanislaus OKs Plan For Use Of Opioid Settlement Funds  County supervisors approved some recommendations Tuesday for spending more than $50 million in funds. (Carlson, 3/31)   Bakersfield Now: Kern River Valley Rallies For Lake Isabella Boy, 8, Battling Rare Leukemia The Kern River Valley community is rallying to help his family manage the long road ahead, including the challenge of traveling for specialized medical care. (Roldan, 3/31) This Week's 'KFF Health News Minute' Consumers know which party they blame after Congress failed to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Plus, updated standards say seniors should aim for even lower blood pressure readings. 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