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California Ambulance Costs Surge 383% as DHS Criticizes State’s Healthcare Policies for Illegal Immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security has highlighted alarming new data from California showing taxpayer-funded ambulance transport costs potentially rising by 383% since 2022, as the agency criticizes the state’s policies on providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants.
According to data from the California Department of Health Care Services, ambulance transportation costs have jumped from $339 per transport in 2022 to $1,168 in 2024. If pending requests to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are approved, these costs could further increase to $1,597 in 2025 and $1,637 in 2026.
“President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “To keep that promise after Joe Biden flooded our country with tens of millions of illegal aliens, CMS and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.”
The issue of healthcare for undocumented immigrants has become increasingly contentious, featuring prominently in recent political debates and contributing to the recent government shutdown. While the California Department of Health Care Services did not explicitly attribute the cost increase to healthcare for undocumented immigrants, DHS officials have suggested a potential correlation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has already begun implementing policy changes in response to financial pressures. In May, Newsom announced plans to freeze new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented immigrants beginning in 2026. The governor also proposed charging current undocumented enrollees a monthly premium starting in July 2027.
The California state assembly debated these measures and ultimately passed a budget reflecting some of Newsom’s proposed changes. While the governor initially suggested a $100 monthly premium for undocumented Medi-Cal recipients, Democratic assembly members reduced it to $30.
DHS officials have also raised concerns about California’s use of intergovernmental transfers (IGTs), which they describe as a loophole that allows the state to inflate its Medicaid spending to receive additional federal matching funds. Through this mechanism, local governments and public hospitals send money to the state, which is then counted as Medicaid spending and matched by federal dollars.
“This information sharing is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them and identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense,” McLaughlin explained. “California Democrats, like Gavin Newsom, should stop putting illegal aliens over Americans.”
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration policies and state-level healthcare programs. While the IGT mechanism is used in other states as well, California’s large undocumented population makes it a focal point for the Trump administration’s efforts to limit benefits to illegal immigrants.
The DHS allegations suggest that the funding mechanism effectively requires taxpayers across the country to subsidize healthcare for undocumented immigrants in California. Meanwhile, private ambulance providers remain locked in at a rate of $339 per transport, while public, taxpayer-funded transport costs have increased dramatically.
Healthcare policy experts note that emergency services, including ambulance transportation, represent a significant portion of healthcare spending for undocumented immigrants who primarily access the system through emergency departments rather than through preventive care channels.
The debate occurs against the backdrop of broader federal efforts to identify undocumented immigrants receiving healthcare benefits and potentially reclaim those funds, as the administration continues to prioritize enforcement of immigration policies across multiple sectors.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the DHS statements or the ambulance cost increases.
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6 Comments
As a California resident, I’m concerned about the potential for such dramatic increases in ambulance costs. While the healthcare of undocumented immigrants is important, the fiscal sustainability of our emergency medical system is also crucial. I hope state leaders can find a way to address both priorities effectively.
This is a complex and nuanced issue without easy solutions. I appreciate the DHS highlighting the potential financial impacts, but hope they can engage constructively with state officials to find a balanced approach. Ultimately, the well-being of all residents should be the top priority.
This is a complex and contentious issue. While providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants is a humanitarian concern, the financial implications for state budgets and taxpayers must also be carefully considered. It would be helpful to see objective data and analysis on the costs and tradeoffs involved.
It’s good to see the government agency responsible for homeland security weigh in on this issue. While the costs are concerning, we must also consider the moral and humanitarian implications of denying healthcare to vulnerable populations. I hope policymakers can find a solution that upholds both fiscal responsibility and human dignity.
Interesting to see the DHS weighing in on this issue. Given the partisan nature of the debate, I hope the agency can provide a balanced and fact-based assessment. Ultimately, policymakers will need to find a solution that balances compassion, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law.
The rising ambulance costs in California are quite alarming. I’m curious to learn more about the factors driving these increases, beyond just the healthcare policies for undocumented immigrants. Are there other systemic issues impacting emergency medical services that need to be addressed?