Abbott’s order will require Texas public hospitals to collect information on patients’ immigration status

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Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed an executive order requiring Texas public hospitals to collect information on patients’ immigration status so they can then track costs incurred in caring for undocumented immigrants.

Previous guidelines 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 the open border policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Texas has had to shoulder the medical costs of individuals who are in the state illegally,” Gov. Abbott said in a statement Thursday. “Texans should not have to bear the burden of funding the health care of illegal immigrants.”

The order requires Texas public hospitals to collect information on the costs of health care provided to undocumented immigrants beginning Nov. 1, 2024. Hospitals with direct coverage would be required to report the data to the state health commission on a quarterly basis, beginning in 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. “At this time, hospitals do not ask about a patient’s immigration status as a condition for treatment. Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay or status.”

The association will be in a better position to answer additional questions once they have had more time to review the order, Williams said.

Disclosure: The Texas Hospital Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, an independent, nonprofit news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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