Governor Greg Abbott has issued an Executive Order directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to begin tracking and reporting the healthcare costs incurred by illegal immigrants using state public hospitals for inpatient and emergency care. This new mandate aims to hold the federal government accountable for these expenses, which Abbott attributes to the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies.

Under the order, Texas public hospitals are required to start collecting detailed data on the medical costs associated with care provided to illegal immigrants from November 1, 2024. The first of these reports must be submitted to HHSC by March 1, 2025, and will continue on a quarterly basis. Additionally, hospitals must inform patients that their care will not be affected by their participation, aligning with federal law.

 

 

Governor Abbott criticized the current federal immigration policies for placing a financial burden on Texan taxpayers “Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state,” said Governor Abbott. “Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants. That is why today [August 8, 2024] I issued an Executive Order requiring the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in our state. Texas will hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the consequences of their open border policies, and we will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies.”

 

The Executive Order also includes provisions for an annual report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House, beginning January 1, 2026. These reports will detail the previous year’s healthcare costs for illegal immigrants, as part of Texas’ effort to seek reimbursement from the federal government.

You can read the Governor’s Executive Order Here.

 

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