CEO Urges Homeland Security to Drop Proposed Changes
LOS ANGELES – L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly-operated health plan in the country, joined more than 150,000 others in providing public comment on the proposed changes to the longstanding Public Charge rule which impacts whether a legal immigrant is eligible for a green card, or permanent legal residency. L.A. Care offered a letter of opposition to the proposed changes, because it is specifically concerned that they will put our members’ health at risk.
Public Charge is what U.S. immigration officials call a person who is considered dependent on the government for subsistence, either through cash assistance or long-term care. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed expanding the benefits that could be considered in making a Public Charge determination. They would include Medicaid, food stamps, Medicare Part D subsidies, and housing assistance such as Section 8 vouchers.
The changes are likely to cause legal immigrants to withdraw from much-needed benefits, and they may even disenroll U.S.-born children out of fear. In L.A. Care’s public comment, CEO John Baackes wrote, “As a result of not being enrolled in public benefit programs, there will be increased emergency room use and emergent care due to delayed treatment, increased prevalence of diseases, and increased uncompensated care.”
L.A. Care has estimated that more than 170,000* of its members could be impacted if the proposed changes become law. In the public comment, L.A. Care urged DHS to withdraw the entire rule change, but at a minimum, to remove Medicaid from the list. L.A. Care also urges DHS not to add the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to any future Public Charge determinations.
L.A. Care wants members to know that the rule has not changed yet, and members should continue to seek care and access benefits. If the rule is finalized, there will be at least 60 days before it takes effect.