Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Los Angeles County's Medicaid eligibility decisions, focusing on benefits provided to alien minors on probation. GAO noted that: (1) the county has been approving unrestricted medical benefits for undocumented minor aliens on probation since 1984; (2) federal and state laws limit Medicaid benefits for such persons to emergency and pregnancy-related services only; (3) the county has based its eligibility determinations on a regulation that states that children supported in whole or in part by public funds may be eligible for Medicaid benefits; and (4) undocumented minor aliens on probation are not eligible for unrestricted benefits such as routine medical examinations.