Abbott public hospital order tracks patients’ immigration status

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Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order on Thursday requiring public hospitals in Texas to collect information about the immigration status of their patients so that the hospitals can subsequently track the costs incurred in treating undocumented immigrants.

Previous policies for public hospitals did not include questions about immigration status. The executive order would require the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect this information so the state of Texas can then bill the federal government.

“Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ open borders policies, Texas has had to bear the cost of providing health care to people living in the state illegally,” Governor Abbott said in a statement Thursday. “Texans should not have to bear the burden of financially supporting the health care of illegal immigrants.”

The order requires public hospitals in Texas to collect information on the cost of medical care for undocumented immigrants starting November 1, 2024. Directly covered hospitals would have to report data quarterly to the state health commission starting March 2025.

“This would be a new requirement and we are reviewing it as quickly as possible,” said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the Texas Hospital Association. “Currently, hospitals do not ask about patients’ immigration status as a condition of treatment. Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving treatment to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or status.”

The association was initially unable to answer further questions.

Disclosure: The Texas Hospital Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in The Tribune’s reporting. A complete list can be found here.

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