Hospitals in Texas will now be required to track the number of patients who are in the country illegally.
On Thursday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order mandating hospitals to begin tracking information regarding the medical treatment provided to undocumented immigrants by November 1st. Additionally, hospitals will be required to keep track of the amount of money spent on the healthcare expenses of undocumented immigrants.
Starting March 1, hospitals are required to report their findings to the state’s Health and Human Services Commission four times a year, as per the order.
According to Imelda Mejia, a member of the immigrant advocacy group Texas Rising, she strongly believes that the recent action taken is purely political and has resulted in the demonization of our immigrant communities.
Mejia is concerned that the implementation of the new law might discourage individuals from seeking necessary medical treatment.
According to her, the changes are bound to confuse patients, especially immigrant families who already struggle with navigating the health care system.
According to the executive order, patients will not face rejection based on their immigration status. Abbott justifies the state’s attempt to recover costs from the federal government as it is paying for the treatment through Medicaid funding.
According to Ira Mehlman from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, taxpayers have a right to be informed about how their money is being utilized, the cost involved, and the destination of the funds.
In 2023, Florida passed a law that is similar in nature. According to reports from the state, they are expending a total of $148 million annually on healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
According to legal experts, hospitals are permitted to inquire about your immigration status, but you are not obligated to provide an answer.
Mehlman suggested that it is possible to make a reasonable deduction about someone’s immigration status, even if they do not explicitly state whether they are in the country illegally. He pointed out that individuals without a valid ID may be indicative of their unlawful residency.
It is unclear from the executive order whether hospitals will be permitted to collect data in this manner.
Harris Health has stated that it will adhere to the law, however, they have not provided any specific details regarding how they plan to do so.
