Health Aides Want Union Hands Off

Home health care providers are asking a federal judge in California to uphold a Trump administration regulation that would block unions from skimming money from Medicaid reimbursements.

In May, the Department of Health and Human Services's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adopted a new regulation to prohibit states from taking money from caregiver reimbursements and giving it to third parties. The regulation took direct aim at several state policies that siphoned money from health aides, many of whom are caring for disabled relatives, and gave it to labor unions.

"This final rule removes the regulatory text that allows a state to make Medicaid payments to third parties on behalf of an individual provider for benefits such as health insurance, skills training, and other benefits customary for employees," the regulation says. "State Medicaid programs are responsible for ensuring that taxpayer dollars are dedicated to providing healthcare services for low-income, vulnerable Americans and are not diverted in ways that do not comply with federal law."

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