Some patients are delaying or avoiding care because they fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in medical settings, CBS News reported July 8.
In January, the federal government rescinded guidelines limiting enforcement actions in or near designated “sensitive” areas, such as schools, churches and hospitals. In June, HHS officials ordered CMS to turn over Medicaid enrollee data, including immigration status, to the Department of Homeland Security.
Céline Gounder, MD, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large at KFF, said she has not seen any ICE raids at hospitals but has seen ICE agents in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
“They are often bringing in people that they’ve detained for medical clearance,” Dr. Gounder told CBS News. “We see this often with law enforcement. But it is creating an atmosphere of fear. And my colleagues and I have had numerous patients tell us that they hesitated or waited too long to come in for healthcare.”
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