Texas hospitals have spent millions of dollars providing medical care to non-U.S. citizens, according to new data released Monday by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
The report follows an executive order issued by Governor Greg Abbott requiring hospitals to collect immigration status data from patients.
The data, gathered as part of the governor’s directive, reveals the financial strain hospitals face when delivering healthcare services to tens of thousands of individuals who are not U.S. citizens.
State officials said the effort aims to quantify healthcare costs associated with undocumented immigrants and inform future policy decisions.
On Monday, a state employee testified before lawmakers about the burden placed on healthcare facilities.
During the testimony, officials did not clarify how long hospitals have tracked immigration status or how the data collection process has evolved since the order’s implementation.
Governor Abbott’s executive order, signed last year, mandates hospitals to report patients’ immigration status to better understand the financial impact of providing care to uninsured, undocumented individuals.
The HHSC report also highlights a broader issue affecting the state’s healthcare system: a high rate of uninsured residents.
Texas consistently ranks among the states with the highest percentage of individuals lacking health insurance, contributing to increased unreimbursed hospital expenses.
