Texas hospitals to start asking immigrants about their legal status

TEXAS IS JOINING FLORIDA IN ITS QUEST TO IDENTIFY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE STATE. 

IN 20-23 – FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS PUT INTO A PLACE A LAW REQUIRING HOSPITALS TO ASK WHETHER A PATIENT WAS IN THE U-S LEGALLY.

NOW, TEXAS IS FOLLOWING SUIT. 

HOSPITALS IN THE LONE STAR STATE WILL START ASKING PATIENTS THE SAME THING ON NOVEMBER 1-ST. 

BUT – TEXAS’ LAW DIFFERS FROM FLORIDA’S IN A BIG WAY. 

IN TEXAS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS DO *NOT* HAVE TO TELL PATIENTS THEIR LEGAL STATUS WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. 

BOTH STATES SEE A HIGH NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS AND NEITHER HAS EXPANDED MEDICAID ACCESS TO THEM – BUT STILL, RESEARCH HAS PROVEN IMMIGRANTS TEND TO USE LESS AND SPEND LESS ON HEALTH CARE.