Saying the public deserves to know, both the House and Senate have approved a measure requiring hospitals that get public money to ask patients if they are in this country legally.
Strictly speaking, the identical proposals by Rep. Ralph Heap of Mesa and Sen. Wendy Rogers, approved on party line votes, are crafted so that answering the question on the patient admission form is optional.
There even would be a statement on the form saying that the answer will not affect the patient’s care and that the response will not be reported to immigration authorities.
That provision did not impress Sen. Analise Ortiz.
“Right now we know that no personal information is safe from being given over to ICE who is killing people in the streets, including United States citizens,” the Phoenix Democrat said.
Federal Medicaid officials already have agreed to provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement with information about the identity and location of “aliens” in this country. And ICE also is accessing data from the IRS and the Social Security Administration.
But risks of sharing information or not, Democrats contend the fact that people would know they are going to be asked that question will result in people staying away and not getting the care they need.
Worse yet, said Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, is that in avoiding seeking treatment for minor — and potentially contagious — diseases they will endanger everyone else. And the Tucson Democrat said that when the patient’s situation becomes dire, it will only cost more for treatment, as federal law prohibits hospitals from turning away patients who need emergency care.
The hour-long debate provoked heated accusations from both sides.
“This is about intimidation and terrorizing our communities,” said Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Tempe.
And Sen. Catherine Miranda (D-Laveen) called it “just mean.”
Rogers, however, said her measure is crafted simply to help attach a dollar-and-cents figure to at least part of the price tag of people getting care at any hospital in Arizona that accepts Medicaid dollars. And she dismissed the claim that just asking the question will cause people to stay away.
“I cannot divine the intentions of fellow human beings,” Rogers said.
“This is an accountancy bill,” she said. “And what its downstream, subjective impact would be is anybody’s guess.”
She drew support from Sen. Jake Hoffman.
“This bill is about understanding the data around the financial burden of illegal aliens in this country, many of who are dangerous illegal aliens,” said the Queen Creek Republican.
Continue reading: https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2026-02-17/bill-requiring-arizona-public-hospitals-to-ask-patients-legal-status-heads-to-hobbs