Immigrant Access to Care
Last Updated: February 24, 2020
*While this page often uses the term “immigrant,” AAPCHO recognizes the distinct differences between the experiences of asylum seekers, immigrants, migrants and refugees and tailors our efforts and resources accordingly.
At AAPCHO, we believe health care is a right not a privilege—and that all people must have access to affordable quality care, regardless of language, culture, immigration status and ability to pay. AAPCHO supports comprehensive immigration reform that fixes our legal immigration backlogs, provides opportunities for immigrants to earn U.S. citizenship, and eliminates waiting-periods and other restrictions to health care for immigrants. We advocate for programs and policies that eliminate barriers and provide access to all.
The current administration’s policy focus, threats and rhetoric have highlighted immigration issues, often falsely painting foreign-born communities as “takers.” To push back against this harmful agenda, AAPCHO will continue to prioritize the safety, access and rights of AAPCHO member patients, particularly currently targeted communities including foreign-born and/or religious minorities.
In response to the numerous threats to immigrant patients’ safety, access, and rights—and to address the needs of AAPCHO members, Asian Americans (AAs), Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs), and all communities we serve—AAPCHO’s immigrant access to care work falls into four important areas (scroll below):
- Addressing Public Charge
- Protecting Immigrant Access and Eligibility
- Monitoring Enforcement at Health Centers
- Combating Fears
We are proud to partner in this work with organizations such as the Asian Americans Advancing Justice, CaliforniaHealth+, California Primary Care Association, Center for Law and Social Policy, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and others to advance the needs of our centers and patients.
Addressing Public Charge
The Trump administration has issued a proposed regulation that expands the definition of “public charge” and puts the health and well-being of immigrant families at risk. Although there have been no finalized changes in the administration’s designation of “public charge,” at the moment, this proposed regulation has instilled fears of change in public charge designation. The new rule would force immigrant families to choose between basic needs like health care and keeping their loved ones together. We call on the administration to rescind this proposal to ensure that immigrant patients and families are not put at risk. AAPCHO has been working to combat the proposed regulation on public charge and address fears of these changes impacting patients’ access to care. We have been working to strengthen connections to key legislators and state-level administrators in the case of a public charge issue, and collaborating with fellow stakeholders in immigration and health advocacy.
WORKING TOGETHER TO OPPOSE PUBLIC CHARGE
AAPCHO, with our members and other national, state and local partners, works to advocate against any threats to the health and well-being of Asian American (AA), Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI), and other vulnerable communities served at community health centers that would be disproportionately impacted by detrimental changes to public charge policy. AAPCHO has been working to strengthen connections to key legislators and state-level administrators and collaborating with fellow stakeholders in immigration and health advocacy to advocate against an expansion of public charge.
AAPCHO is also a member of multiple coalitions united in opposition to public charge:
WHY AAPCHO AND HEALTH CENTERS OPPOSE PUBLIC CHARGE
As representatives of America’s health centers and the 28 million patients they serve, we work to ensure access to quality and affordable health care for all in need. The health center model and mission is to ensure access to affordable health care so that all individuals can contribute to their communities and reach their full potential. As currently drafted, this proposed rule is in direct contrast to this mission.
- Joint Statement of America’s Health Centers Opposing Public Charge Proposal (October 10, 2018)
- Remarks to OMB on Impact Of Proposed Public Charge Rule (June 29, 2018)
- AAPCHO Statement on Public Charge (September 24, 2018)
- AAPCHO’s Comments on the Public Charge Proposal (December 7, 2018)
- Impact calculator to (1) estimate the number of patients impacted and (2) potential loss of revenue if they disenroll from Medicaid and other health coverage: Public Charge Impact Calculator (Asian Health Services – last updated March 12, 2018)
WHAT TO SAY TO PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT PUBLIC CHARGE
- Public Charge: Does This Apply to Me? (PIF – February 2020)
- Public Charge FAQs (National Health Center Immigration Workgroup – January 2020)
- Public Charge FAQs for Community Members (One Nation – February 2020): English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese
- Know Your Rights (PIF – February 2020)
- Should I Keep My Kids Enrolled in Health and Nutrition (PIF – February 2020)
- Immigrant Self Sufficiency Fact Sheet: How Benefits Can Help (Massachusetts Law Reform Institute – March 2019)
- 10 Facts About Access to Health Insurance for Immigrants and Their Families (CLASP, National Immigrant Law Center, National Health Law Program – November 2019)
- How to Talk About Public Charge with Immigrants and Their Families (National Immigration Law Center, PIF – Jan 2019)
- Public Charge Community Education Sheet (AAJC – October 17, 2018): English, Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese
- FAQ on the DHS Public Charge Inadmissibility Proposal (PIF – May 2019)
- FAQ on the DOJ Public Charge Deportability Proposal (PIF – July 10, 2019)
OTHER HANDY RESOURCES
- One Nation Built on the Strength of Immigrants: One Nation Commission Report (One Nation – October 2019): Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, Tagalog, Vietnamese
- Changes to Public Charge: Analysis and Frequently Asked Questions (PIF – September 9, 2019)
- Public Charge Webinar (PIF – April 22, 2019)
- Documenting the Harm of Public Charge Now (PIF – April 18, 2019)
- Infographic: Public Charge is an Attack on AAPI Families (APIAHF, AAPCHO, Asian Health Services – September 2018)
- Infographic: What is Public Charge? (PIVOT – October 24, 2018)
- Take Action: One Nation AAPI and Public Charge Infographic (NCAPA)
- Tri-Caucus and CPC Press Conference Opposing Proposed Public Charge Rule (CAPAC – July 12, 2019)
Come back often as we update this page with the latest information and resources. If you have questions or would like more information related to public charge, contact us at public-charge@aapcho.org.
Protecting Immigrant Access and Eligibility
At the moment, there have been no changes to the access to care and benefit programs for immigrant, refugee, and Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant patients. AAPCHO is committed to ensuring no erosion of immigrant access to benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other benefits like SNAP, CTC, etc. We must also correct the narrative of immigrant communities as “takers” and demonstrate the contributions of immigrant families, working with data showing that investment in immigrant families is better for all families long-term, saves money and contributes to public health overall. Finally, we are working with many partners to secure a DREAM Act which allows for dignity and health for DACAmented and undocumented individuals and the communities which support them.
AAPCHO RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- AAPCHO Applauds Introduction of Dream and Promise Act (Mar 12, 2019)
- AAPCHO Responds to Trump Administration’s Immigration Priorities (Oct 9, 2017)
- “The Children’s Health Insurance Program – Essential for AA&NHPI Kids” Webinar: Recording and Slides (Nov 13, 2017)
- Action for Health Justice Health Enrollment Glossary
PARTNER RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- NCAPA Welcomes the Introduction of the American Dream and Promise Act (March 14, 2019)
- National Immigration Law Center Health Resources (NILC)
- You Have Rights Protect Your Health (PIF) (July 2019)
Monitoring Enforcement in Health Centers
Given increased threats of enforcement action in and around health centers, AAPCHO has been working to help member health centers, other AA and NHPI-serving health centers, and clinic patients to protect themselves against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. This includes making sure that patients know their rights and clinics understand and are able to protect and prepare against any issues if needed. Clinics and other spaces have specific protections, such as “sensitive locations” policies, and we have been working to support these protections so that patients feel safe to receive the care that they need. In addition, we are hearing increased reports of ICE detainment and deportation proceedings, with Cambodian and Vietnamese individuals, in particular, being targeted and rounded up. AAPCHO will continue to monitor these increased threats and work with our members and partners to ensure patient and community members are safe and have access to the resources and services they need.
AAPCHO RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- “Know Your Rights: Ensuring the Safety of Immigrants at Health Centers” Webinar: Recording and Slides (March 27, 2017)
- Creating a Safe Space at your Health Center (September 18, 2017)
PARTNER RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- Toolkit for Health Care Providers (NILC)
- Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients’ Rights (NILC – April 2017)
- Health Care Centers Can Become Safe Spaces for Immigrant Patients (NILC – May 15, 2017)
- Everyone Has Basic Rights (NILC – last updated July 13, 2019)
- Immigration Sample Policies and Procedures (California Health+ Advocates – Jan 29, 2019)
- Preparing for Immigration Raids: What Child and Youth Advocates and Service Providers Can Do (CLASP – July 22, 2019)
- Know Your Rights Resources (Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta – last updated July 11, 2019) – Resources in 22 languages
- Know Your Rights Red Cards – (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) – All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. These cards can be distributed to remind us of our rights in situations such as when ICE agents go to a home.
- Southeast Asian Raids: Know Your Rights
Combating Fears
AA, NHPI, and other communities we serve have seen an increase in harmful rhetoric, refugee and anti-Muslim hate. Increased anti-immigrant rhetoric and threats of large-scale ICE deportation raids have led to intensifying fear and anxiety among the AA and NHPI community as well as other immigrant communities. Fears of personal safety, and risks or challenges with mental health and resilience are the reality for many community members, sometimes but not always connected to specific fears of deportation or benefits. We have been working to strengthen AAPCHO members and similar health centers as places of care to support mental health and trauma-informed care, and to find ways to address fears as they arise, in coordination with external policy triggers or specific issues like ACA enrollment.
AAPCHO RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- Mental Health and Resilience in AA&NHPI-serving Health Centers Webinar: Recording and Slides (Sept 19, 2017)
PARTNER RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS
- Know Your Rights: Is it Safe to Apply for Health Insurance or Seek Health Care? (NILC – Nov 30, 2016)
- Supporting Mental Health of Immigrant Communities (Mental Health America)
- All Are Welcome: Health Clinics Work to Allay Fears of Immigrant Patients and their Families (CaliforniaHealth Report – Feb 22, 2018)