Medical community condemns public charge rule: 'Harmful,' 'dangerous and shortsighted'  

Emily Rappleye -

 

Hospitals and medical associations spoke out against a final rule from the Trump administration that will effectively force a choice between healthcare and obtaining a green card for some immigrants. 

"We ask the administration to withdraw this harmful rule," several major medical associations said in a joint statement

"This rule could undermine access to care for legal immigrants by discouraging the use of critical public programs like Medicaid," the statement reads. "We are concerned that this could lead to delays in care that would negatively impact the health of the communities we serve."

Associations represented by the statement are the American Hospital Association, America's Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Children's Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals. 

In a separate statement, AAMC President and CEO David Skorton, MD, says the rule "will worsen existing health inequities and disparities, cause further harm to many underserved and vulnerable populations, and increase costs to the health care system overall, which will affect all patients."

NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, also came out against the rule, calling it "dangerous and shortsighted." 

"The anti-immigrant rule is intended to instill fear on thousands who are not directly impacted and could discourage more than a quarter million New Yorkers who currently receive care at NYC Health + Hospitals — including children and citizens — from continuing care to prevent illness and manage disease. It goes against everything we're trying to do in NYC to guarantee health care for all, with dignity and respect, and create healthier communities."

The health system is directing patients to its legal services for confidential assistance in interpreting this rule.   

 

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