Published September, 2007

Memo to local district commissioners, Medicaid directors, and temporary assistance directors from NYS Dep't of Health, Office of Health Insurance Programs on coverage of chemo & radiation as emergency medical service for undocumented aliens (2007)

It is not unusual to encounter women battling both HIV disease and breast cancer. But can an undocumented immigrant get prescribed chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat cancer as an emergency medical service? The NY Department of Health, Office of Health Insurance Programs, issued this directive to local district commissioners, Medicaid directors, and Temporary Assistance directors to clarify that, until told differently, local social services must continue to treat chemotherapy and radiation as emergency medical services payable under Emergency Medicaid, on behalf of immigrants without status (undocumented immigrants).