AHA Statement on Public Charge Proposal

Rick Pollack
President and CEO

American Hospital Association

September 24, 2018

The public charge proposal released this weekend could jeopardize access to health services for millions of legal immigrants across the country, including children, seniors, the disabled and those with chronic conditions. This could threaten both their individual and public health. The proposal could jeopardize the immigration status of legal immigrants if they enroll in programs such as Medicaid. America’s hospitals and health systems have serious concerns that those legally in the country could choose to forgo health care benefits – and therefore delay accessing care – out of fear of repercussions for themselves and their families. Forgoing care can exacerbate medical conditions leading to sicker patients and a higher reliance on hospital emergency departments. In turn, this could drive up costs for all purchasers of care.

As the backbone of our nation’s health safety net, America’s hospitals and health systems work to protect access to care for those who need it and ensure that our patients and communities are not left behind. We urge the Administration to rethink this policy that could affect the health of millions.

Contact:       

Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351 mjohnson@aha.org

Colin Milligan (202) 638-5491 cmilligan@aha.org

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About the American Hospital Association

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.