Washington, D.C., on Monday implemented new Medicaid regulations requiring applicants and re-enrolling beneficiaries to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, the Washington Post reports. The policy was mandated under the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 in an effort to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing Medicaid. District officials in late June decided to delay enforcement of the new rules after consumer groups filed a class-action lawsuit to block the new regulations. However, District officials last Monday decided to begin enforcement of the rules after the federal government announced changes that exempted nearly eight million Medicaid beneficiaries from the requirements. The district's 142,800 current Medicaid beneficiaries -- minus the 34,000 beneficiaries who are exempt -- will have 45 days to prove their U.S. citizenship when their period for re-enrollment begins. They will continue to receive benefits during the 45-day period. New applicants will not receive coverage until they have provided district officials with a passport, birth certificate, photo ID or other records specified by CMS. Between 3,000 and 3,500 people in the district apply for Medicaid each month. Kate Jesberg, interim director of the district's Department of Human Services, said the department plans to make "as aggressive an effort as we can" to locate applicants' birth certificates at the D.C. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Jesberg said the department is "very concerned" that some citizens could be denied benefits (Levine, Washington Post, 7/20).