Young Conservatives of Texas Files Additional Complaints Against Texas Counties for Providing Care to Illegal Immigrants

The Young Conservatives of Texas group has filed three more complaints against three Texas counties -- Dallas, Bexar and El Paso -- for violating a 1996 federal law that bars public health systems from providing free non-emergency care to illegal immigrants, the Houston Chronicle reports (Berger, Houston Chronicle, 8/4). In early July, Texas Attorney General John Cornyn (R) issued a legal opinion that said the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (national welfare reform) prohibits public hospitals from providing health services -- except emergency room care, immunizations, treatment of communicable diseases and care for child abuse -- to illegal immigrants (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/31). Cornyn's opinion applies specifically to Houston, but also could affect other areas of Texas (Nichols, Dallas Morning News, 8/3). Last week, the Young Conservatives of Texas filed a complaint against the Harris County Hospital District accusing it of "forcing the public to pay for non-emergency health care" for illegal immigrants. That complaint, as well as Cornyn's opinion, prompted Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal to launch a criminal investigation into the hospital district (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/31). Over the last three years, immigrants accounted for 23% of 50,000 inpatient visits, 186,000 emergency room visits and 730,000 clinic visits made to the Harris County Hospital District. Visits by illegal immigrants cost the district about $330 million, $105 million of which was reimbursed by the federal government. Marc Levin, vice chair of the Young Conservatives of Texas, said, "We would like the district attorneys to enforce the law. Our organization strongly opposes illegal immigration, and this is a huge burden on taxpayers." He added that his group could file additional complaints against counties or file a lawsuit if the district attorneys take no action (Houston Chronicle, 8/4). For further information on state health policy in Texas, visit State Health Facts Online.