Associated Press
Texas hospitals must ask patients starting Friday whether they are in the U.S. legally and track the cost of treating people without legal status following an order by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that expands the state’s clash with the Biden administration over immigration.Critics fear the change could scare people away from hospitals in Texas, even though patients are not required to answer the questions to receive medical care.
The mandate is similar to a policy that debuted last year in Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is also a frequent critic of the federal government’s handling of illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas hospitals have spent months preparing for the change and have sought to reassure patients that it won’t affect their level of care.
Here’s what to know:
Under the executive order announced by Abbott in August, hospitals must ask patients if they are citizens in the U.S. and whether they are lawfully present in the country.
Patients have the right to withhold the information and hospital workers must tell them their responses will not affect their care, as required by federal law.
Hospitals are not required to begin submitting reports to the state until March. An early draft of a spreadsheet made by state health officials to track data does not include fields to submit patient names or personal information.
Providers will fill out a breakdown of visits by inpatient and emergency care patients and document whether they are lawfully present in the country, citizens or not lawfully present in the U.S.
The reports will also add up costs for those covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP; and the cost for patients without it.
“Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants,” Abbott said when he announced the policy.
Florida enacted a similar law last year. Health care advocates contend the law has made immigrants who need of emergency medical care fearful and led to fewer people seeking help, even from facilities not subject to the law.
Florida’s early data is – by the state’s own admission – limited. The data is self-reported. Anyone can decline to answer, an option chosen by nearly 8 percent of people admitted to the hospital and about 7 percent of people who went to the emergency room from June to December 2023, according to Florida’s state report. Fewer than 1 percent of people who went to the emergency room or were admitted to the hospital reported being in the U.S. “illegally.”
Immigrant and health care advocates have sought to educate the Texas public about their rights. In Florida, groups used text messages, posters and emails to get the word out. But advocates there have said they didn’t see fears subside for about a year.
Health care providers received directives from the state and guidance from the Texas Hospital Association.
“The bottom line for patients is that this doesn’t change hospital care. Texas hospitals continue to be a safe place for needed care,” said Carrie Williams, spokesperson for the hospital association.
Texas hospitals have spent months preparing for the change and have sought to reassure patients that it won’t affect their level of care.
Here’s what to know:
Required to ask, not required to answer
Under the executive order announced by Abbott in August, hospitals must ask patients if they are citizens in the U.S. and whether they are lawfully present in the country.
Patients have the right to withhold the information and hospital workers must tell them their responses will not affect their care, as required by federal law.
Tracking hospital costs and patient data
Providers will fill out a breakdown of visits by inpatient and emergency care patients and document whether they are lawfully present in the country, citizens or not lawfully present in the U.S.
The reports will also add up costs for those covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP; and the cost for patients without it.
“Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants,” Abbott said when he announced the policy.
Texas is following Florida’s lead
Florida enacted a similar law last year. Health care advocates contend the law has made immigrants who need of emergency medical care fearful and led to fewer people seeking help, even from facilities not subject to the law.
Florida’s early data is – by the state’s own admission – limited. The data is self-reported. Anyone can decline to answer, an option chosen by nearly 8 percent of people admitted to the hospital and about 7 percent of people who went to the emergency room from June to December 2023, according to Florida’s state report. Fewer than 1 percent of people who went to the emergency room or were admitted to the hospital reported being in the U.S. “illegally.”
Texas hospitals have been preparing
Immigrant and health care advocates have sought to educate the Texas public about their rights. In Florida, groups used text messages, posters and emails to get the word out. But advocates there have said they didn’t see fears subside for about a year.
Health care providers received directives from the state and guidance from the Texas Hospital Association.
“The bottom line for patients is that this doesn’t change hospital care. Texas hospitals continue to be a safe place for needed care,” said Carrie Williams, spokesperson for the hospital association.
12 comments:
Greg Abbott is one strange dude. He has no concept of Christianity (Heaven) and will likely meet HELL.
Disgusting shit. Humanity means shit to Abbott.
ORDERS, that's all Abbott knows. Guy hasn't done anything else.
Hispanics do not go to hospitals: they take teas, get a "sobada", take a nap, get "curanderismo" with an egg and get a cleaning with albahcar.
You kidding spics go to hospital for simple flu
Guess you never been to the ER
They clogg up ERs everywhere
This is so true. Don't forget the sign of the cross.
There is no hate like Abbots Christian love. He has no concept of Christianity.
The hispanics that go to the hospital for a simple flu are smart. They have insurance, pay high fees so they should use it. Think about it, when employees have insurance they do not use it: young, healthy but the disease is there in their system. When they start using the insurance, the insurance gets angry at them. So use the insurance for everything. Get all possible exams and hear that you are strong and healthy.
The only ones that don't believe in christianity are the democrats. It's you who believe that killing a child is ok. It's you that approve for men to play in girl sports. It's you that approve placing sex books in kids libraries. So let's cut through the crap and tell it like it is. George Soros owns you idiots. He wants to destroy this country so he can rebuild it his way.
You have no concept of freedom and what it means, you flea-infested fool!!!
Books in the library? Are you kidding! 🤣 Kids learn about sex through their phones and computers at home. P Diddy and baby oil. If a person knows that they can't care for a baby or that they don't want a baby why set a baby up for neglect or abuse? People should have a choice.
7:49. The Bible is your Christian book. It is full of stories of homosexuality
(Sodom/Gomorrah). Incestous acts, genocide and other atrocities. You must
not read it or you would not have posted your comment. Only the weak-minded
believe in a Jewish savior. Keep worshiping your Orange Jesus.
Post a Comment