IHA Alert: Public Charge Proposed Rule

FEDERAL ADVOCACY ALERT

Public Charge Proposed Rule – Comments Due By Dec. 10

On November 21, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) formally submitted a comment letter in opposition to a proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security, entitled Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds. The proposed rule changes how the department determines whether legal immigrants are likely, at any time, to become a public charge -- a determination which may put their immigration status at risk.

ACTION REQUESTED: IHA is urging members to submit comments as this proposed rule will likely cause fewer legal immigrants to access medical, nutritional, and other public benefits for which they are eligible, resulting in reduced health and well-being as well as significant cost shifting to hospitals and health systems.

IHA has created a sample letter to assist you in drafting your comments opposing the rule. You may submit comments on this proposed rule (click here), identified by DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012, on the Federal eRulemaking website, www.regulations.gov.

Comments on the federal rule are due by December 10, 2018.

Manatt has developed a white paper for AHA and other leading hospital organizations that highlights Medicaid payments that are at risk for hospitals under the proposed rule which you may find helpful for your comments.

For other resources and talking points, see the following:

If you have questions or comments for IHA, please contact: Luis Andrade, Director of Government Relations.