FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Beth Feldpush, DrPH
Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
America’s Essential Hospitals
WASHINGTON — We thank President Joe Biden for his compassionate decision to ensure legal immigrants can participate in all the opportunities our country offers, including access to affordable health care for themselves and their families.
By directing his agencies to revisit policies that jeopardize access to basic needs and services, such as the public charge rule, the president can begin the process of rebuilding trust in our institutions among populations that contribute much to making our nation strong.
The damaging change that applied the public charge determination to non-emergency Medicaid created a chilling effect on immigrants’ access to health care services, causing many to forgo needed treatment for fear of losing their status as legal residents. The policy created an unacceptable risk of people seeking care only as a last resort, when they are sicker and more costly to treat.
We urge the administration to complete its review of harmful immigration policies as quickly as possible and reverse the public charge rule. The underrepresented people essential hospitals serve, including our millions of legal immigrants, deserve nothing less than the opportunity to achieve a healthy and successful life here.
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About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at essentialhospitals.org.
Contact:
Carl Graziano
cgraziano@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
Author