A federal lawsuit against the state of Arizona alleges a state agency is providing low-income immigrants with emergency-only coverage instead of the full medical benefits they are eligible for, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Phoenix, alleges lower-income refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants who qualify for full coverage for outpatient care and prescription drugs under Arizona's Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, are being shifted to emergency-only care.
The lawsuit seeks preliminary and permanent court orders to prevent the state's Medicaid program from downgrading immigrants' health benefits, according to the report.
The AHCCCS and agency officials declined to comment on the pending litigation, according to the Republic.