The Oregon Senate voted Feb. 24 in favor of a bill that, if passed, would require hospitals to treat a patient’s citizenship or immigration status the same as protected health information.
The Healthcare Without Fear Act will need to pass the Oregon House of Representatives before it moves to the governor’s desk.
If signed into law, hospitals and federally qualified health centers will be required to designate which areas of the facility are not open to the public and prohibited from disclosing an individual’s citizenship or immigration status to law enforcement unless required by state or federal law.
The Oregon Nurses Association applauded the Senate’s vote, saying the proposed legislation aims to “hold federal immigration officers accountable inside hospitals, protect patients’ and providers’ rights, and ensure everyone can access healthcare without fearing for their safety,” according to a news release.
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