Texas Hospitals Treat Tens of Thousands of Unauthorized Patients, Costs Run into Millions

Recent testimony before the Texas House Public Health Committee revealed that Texas hospitals have treated tens of thousands of patients who are not lawfully present in the United States. This data collection is part of an initiative ordered by Governor Greg Abbott in November 2024, directing hospitals to ask patients about their lawful status.

While patients were assured that their access to care would not be affected, they were not legally bound to respond. Although the first data reports were due by March 1, 2025, the release has been delayed due to some hospitals submitting data in non-digital formats requiring manual entry.

As of the latest update, 558 hospitals have responded, with treatment costs amounting to millions of dollars. A bill is currently under consideration to formalize this data collection and reporting process on an annual basis, aiming to provide transparency on the allocation of public funds towards uncompensated care for unauthorized patients.

The Texas Hospital Association reports that hospitals spend approximately $3.1 billion annually on unreimbursed uninsured care, the majority of which serves uninsured Texas citizens. The context includes significant rural hospital closures since 2005, largely attributed to uncompensated care burdens.

Advocates caution that a large portion of uncompensated care relates to uninsured American citizens rather than solely unauthorized immigrants. This legislative effort reflects ongoing concerns about healthcare funding, hospital sustainability, and immigration's impact on state healthcare resources.