Starting this Friday, Texas hospitals are mandated to ask patients if they are U.S. citizens or in the country lawfully, under an executive order from Republican Governor Greg Abbott. This policy requires healthcare facilities to gather data on the costs of treating people who may be in the U.S. without legal documentation, though patients are not obligated to respond to these questions to receive care. The directive, similar to a law implemented in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis, has generated controversy, with advocates warning that it could deter people from seeking medical assistance, potentially impacting public health.
Governor Abbott announced the policy in August, citing concerns over state resources being used to support medical care for undocumented individuals. Under the new requirements, hospitals will categorize patient admissions, distinguishing between those in the U.S. legally, those without legal status, and those covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This information, which will be collected by healthcare providers without including personal identifiers, will not be submitted to the state until March, and patients have the right to withhold their immigration status without jeopardizing the level of care they receive.
