FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Transparency Measure to Shine Light on State-Funded
Healthcare for Illegal Aliens Passes Senate
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— A transparency measure intended to shine a light on state-funded healthcare for illegal aliens, while protecting patient privacy, is moving on to the House of Representatives for consideration after passing the Senate today with only Republican support.
Sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers, SB 1268 aims to support the Trump Administration's efforts to both expose government waste and combat the crisis of illegal immigration by requiring health care providers disclose needed information to evaluate the impact illegal aliens are having on Arizona's hospitals, the state's Medicaid program, and taxpayers.
SB 1268 requires hospitals to include a section on their patient admission form giving individuals the option to indicate whether they are lawfully present in the United States. The admission form will also include a statement assuring patients that their response will not affect the care they receive, nor will they be reported to immigration authorities. The bill also requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to submit annual reports to the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of the State detailing the number of admissions and emergency department visits made by patients who indicate their citizenship status and the number of non-citizens receiving care through Arizona's Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). This report will address how uncompensated care affects the ability of hospitals to provide services to the lawful Arizona citizens. Additionally, SB 1268 prohibits DHS from releasing any confidential information that is collected on the admission form unless warranted by an active investigation. In the event the information is necessary and pertinent to an investigation or proceeding, the data can be shared with law enforcement, state agencies, or federal entities.
"The state's Medicaid program, funded with taxpayer dollars, is intended to help U.S. citizens receive the health care services they need. Unfortunately, when the Biden Administration rolled out the red carpet for illegal immigrants, our nation and our state became overwhelmed treating patients who should not be living here in the first place, compromising the availability of healthcare for our law-abiding citizens," said Senator Rogers. "This bill will help us obtain real data on the impacts of illegal immigration on healthcare services, while still protecting patient privacy, so that we can make informed decisions on how to tackle this problem. I will continue to advocate for this crucial measure, as it moves through the legislative process, to ensure that Arizona's healthcare system remains sustainable and responsive to the needs of its lawful citizens."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
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