In 2024, Florida hospitals reported approximately $660 million in costs associated with providing medical care to undocumented immigrants, according to data from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). This financial burden has prompted state officials to implement measures aimed at assessing and addressing the impact on the healthcare system.
Key Data Highlights:
- Emergency Room Visits: Undocumented patients accounted for 67,700 emergency room visits statewide, resulting in approximately $76.6 million in Medicaid payments for emergency services.
- County-Specific Costs:
- Miami-Dade County: $282 million
- Broward County: $77 million
- Hillsborough County (Tampa area): $64 million
- Orange County (Orlando area): $38 million
- Duval County (Jacksonville area): $34 million
These figures underscore the significant financial challenges faced by Florida’s healthcare system in providing care to individuals without legal residency.
Legislative Response:
In response to these escalating costs, Florida enacted Senate Bill 1718 (SB 1718) in May 2023. This legislation mandates that hospitals accepting Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding include a provision on admission or registration forms asking patients to declare their citizenship or immigration status. Patients are informed that their responses will not affect their care or result in reports to immigration authorities.
The primary objective of this requirement is to collect data on the financial impact of providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants, thereby informing future policy decisions.
Federal Mandates and Healthcare Provision:
Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) of 1986, hospitals are legally required to provide emergency medical screening and stabilization to all patients, regardless of their citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay. This federal mandate ensures that immediate medical needs are addressed without discrimination.
Implications and Considerations:
The rising cost of healthcare for undocumented immigrants in Florida underscores the urgent need for stronger border security and immigration enforcement. While federal law mandates emergency medical care for all individuals, states should not be forced to bear the financial burden of policies that incentivize illegal immigration.
Florida’s efforts to track these costs through SB 1718 are a step in the right direction, providing transparency and data to inform future policy decisions. To protect taxpayers and ensure resources are available for legal residents, lawmakers must prioritize enforcement, reduce incentives for illegal immigration, and push for reforms that hold the federal government accountable for its failures on border security.
