Fri Feb 28 16:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Illinois Immigrant Healthcare Programs Slammed by Audit for Massive Cost Overruns and Enrollment Issues

**SPRINGFIELD, IL** – An audit released Wednesday reveals that Illinois’ state-funded healthcare programs for undocumented immigrants significantly overspent their projected budgets and suffered from widespread enrollment errors. The programs, which have cost over $1.6 billion since their inception in late 2020, were criticized for inaccurate cost estimations and a failure to effectively transition eligible recipients into the federally-funded Medicaid program.

The audit, conducted by Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino, found that the program for immigrants aged 42-64 cost nearly four times the initial projection, reaching $485 million, while the program for those 65 and older cost nearly double the estimate, totaling $412 million. These cost overruns prompted Governor JB Pritzker to propose eliminating funding for the younger immigrant program, aiming for $330 million in savings.

The audit also uncovered numerous enrollment irregularities, including nearly 500 duplicate enrollments, thousands of individuals with Social Security numbers incorrectly classified as undocumented, and hundreds of participants eligible for Medicaid but enrolled in the state-only programs. The report highlighted a significant discrepancy in initial cost estimates, with one agency official describing the initial $4 million annual projection for the 65+ program as “very wrong.”

While Governor Pritzker defended the programs’ importance in providing healthcare access, he did not directly address the reasons for the massive discrepancies in cost projections. His administration attributed some overspending to delays in removing ineligible individuals.

The audit’s findings have sparked criticism from Republicans, who accuse the administration of mismanagement and lack of transparency. Democrats, while acknowledging the need for fiscal responsibility, emphasized the importance of providing healthcare for all residents, regardless of immigration status. The audit has prompted calls for improved eligibility verification processes and efforts to recover potential federal reimbursements. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has initiated a redetermination process, resulting in over 21,000 individuals being removed from the program rolls.

Read More