In an Aug. 13 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), America’s Essential Hospitals responded to the agency’s interpretation of the term “federal public benefit” as it applied to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). This interpretation limits the ability of immigrants without legal status to access grant-funded benefits. The association called on HHS to reevaluate the notice, as it provides unclear guidance and conflicts with federal law.
Specifically, America’s Essential Hospital urged HHS to:
- Ensure that all grantees are subject to the same verification requirements
- Remove the health center program from the list of “federal public benefits” under PRWORA
- Provide clear guidance and more time for providers to comply
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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