Does Abbott’s New Order Force Texas Hospitals to Violate HIPAA?

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in a recent executive order, required state hospitals to release the immigration status of their patients to the state.

The reasoning is so that the federal government would reimburse the state for the cost of care for immigrants unlawfully in the country.

The Facts of Abbott's Order

Abbott shared the details of the executive order in a recent X post:

These costs prove to be a "burden" to the Texas healthcare system, Abbott added.

What This Means Moving Forward

Abbott has directed the Health and Human Services to do the following beginning November 1st:

• Collect information regarding patients not lawfully within the U.S. and the cost of care for each

• Inform patients that any response to questions regarding their legal status will not affect their care

• Report such data to the Health and Human Services on a quarterly basis

• File an annual report directly to the Governor, Lt. Gov., and House Speaker regarding the fiscal year's costs for patients unlawfully within the U.S.

This decision is beginning to receive heavy backlash from immigration rights activists, with State Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D) posting to X that this is "unacceptable", and that Abbott is "yet again social engineering and targeting immigrants."

Texas will have to wait and see how this decision unfolds from the state throughout the nation.