Immigrants served by community health centers appear less inclined than in the past to seek public aid to help them with their medical problems.
And community health center staff believes this is the result of confusion and fear as a result of changing federal immigration policies.
As stated in the Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief “Impact of Shifting Immigration Policy on Medicaid Enrollment and Utilization of Care among Health Center Patients,”
- Health centers reported that, in recent months, immigrant patients have declined to enroll or reenroll themselves and/or their children in Medicaid for fear of public charge.
- Health center respondents reported patients are confused about the new rule and are afraid to provide identifying information.
- According to respondents, the public charge rule is creating a “chilling” effect, leading to decreased enrollment in other programs not subject to public charge.
- About half of health centers reported a drop in utilization by immigrant patients, especially among pregnant women.
- Health centers are training staff to answer questions on public charge and are working to ensure access to care for their patients.
This can pose a challenge for private safety-net hospitals: low-income individuals who avoid public aid programs often end up receiving uncompensated care from those hospitals.
Learn more in the Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief “Impact of Shifting Immigration Policy on Medicaid Enrollment and Utilization of Care among Health Center Patients.”
