After the Trump administration rescinded a policy that protected hospitals, medical clinics and churches from immigration enforcement, medical facilities are reporting a sharp increase in no-show rates and canceled appointments, The New York Times reported May 8.
1. Across the nation, clinicians said they are increasingly concerned by the number of people with serious medical conditions — including injuries, chronic illnesses and high-risk pregnancies — who are foregoing medical care for fear of being found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Health officials told the Times that the consequences of delayed care could lead to unnecessarily infectious disease circulation, worsening healthcare costs due to untreated chronic illnesses and more dangerous birth complications.
2. Research has found that immigration crackdowns are linked to poorer birth outcomes, worse mental health status, lapses in care, and fewer people accessing public programs designed to reduce illness and poverty.
3. Physicians and leaders across the country have reported a number of metric changes since the policy shift:
- An emergency room physician in Atlanta said her hospital’s request for Spanish-language interpretation in the ED fell more than 60% between January and February.
- There are increased delays and cancellations among pregnant women and new mothers, an Indiana obstetrician said.
- Many children of immigrant parents are not going to appointments or filling medications for fear of drawing attention to their family.
- A California health center reported a 30% increase in no-shows among pediatric appointments.
4. Systems are still grappling with how to handle immigration officials entering facilities looking for patients. Some hospitals have warned employees not to protect illegal migrants, while others are informing patients of their rights and not recording immigration status on the patient’s medical records. Others are taking medical care to patient homes to reduce risk, according to the report.
