Your Right to Health Care
Your immigration status doesn’t change your access to care at Central Health and CommUnityCare Health Centers. You’ll always be welcome to the attention you need.
Read on to learn more about executive order GA-46 and how it may affect you.
About executive order GA-46
On August 8, 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued executive order GA-46. This order directs hospitals to collect information on immigration status, number of inpatient discharges, number of emergency visits, and costs associated with the care provided to “patients who are not lawfully present in the United States.” GA-46 took effect on November 1, 2024.
Where GA-46 will be implemented
The executive order directs the Health and Human Services Commission to require “hospitals” to collect this information. The executive order states that “hospitals” include “acute care hospitals enrolled in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).”
How GA-46 affects your care
The executive order is clear that your care must not be affected by any answer you give in response to a question regarding your lawful presence in the United States. Although the order requires hospitals to ask you for this information, it does not require you to answer. We encourage you to only provide information you are comfortable providing, and to seek the medical care you need regardless of your immigration status.
