Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Beyond Medicaid And Food Stamps: 'Public Charge' Immigration Rule Could Have Wide-Reaching Public Health Effects
Pediatricians and public health officials are worried vaccination rates among children of immigrants will fall as new and stricter rules come into effect this autumn related to the public services available to people seeking to immigrate to the United States. In fact, a number said they have seen a decline in immigrant families using preventive health care services for their children since the Trump administration published its proposed 鈥減ublic charge鈥 update last fall 鈥 even when the children are U.S. citizens and are not subject to the rule. (Branswell, 8/26)
Experts are warning that the Trump administration鈥檚 鈥減ublic charge鈥 rule linking immigrants鈥 legal status to their use of public benefits will have far reaching impacts on health care coverage as well as the country's safety net. ...Health and immigration experts and activists said the final rule will have a chilling effect even on people who aren鈥檛 directly affected and could discourage permanent residents and even U.S. citizens from renewing or applying for benefits they are entitled to. (Weixel, 8/24)
The CMS on Friday told states on Friday they can count the assets and income of the sponsors of legal immigrants when they're determining whether the immigrants qualify for Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance coverage. If states don't like the methodologies suggested by the CMS, they can come up with an alternative but will need agency approval. (Luthi, 8/23)
Meanwhile, in other news 鈥
More than a year after he drew criticism for comparing family detention to a 鈥渟ummer camp,鈥 the nation鈥檚 top immigration enforcer stood in a clean hallway in America鈥檚 largest family detention complex and gestured around himself. 鈥淭ake a look,鈥 said Matthew Albence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement鈥檚 acting director. (Sacchetti, 8/25)