Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent a strong warning to Texas Children's Hospital, after one of their doctors went viral on TikTok, telling patients to skip the citizenship question on intake forms.
The video had over 1 million views before it was taken down, and now the hospital is facing major backlash. And some strong words from the Governor, who issued an executive order in early August requiring hospitals that take Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Plan to ask patients “Are you a U.S. citizen?” on specific intake forms.
The new order went into effect on Nov. 1.
“Hey Texas Children’s Hospital & Baylor College of Medicine this doctor is putting your Medicaid & Medicare funding at risk. You better think twice & have crystal clear records. There will be consequences for failing to follow the law in the Order,” the governor posted on X.
Texas Children's Hospital responded with the following statement:
Texas Children’s fully supports Governor Abbott’s new Executive Order and is in full compliance. We have worked closely with the Texas Hospital Association and our industry partners across the state to ensure compliance in advance of the effective date. While we recognize that individuals working at Texas Children’s hold their own personal views on many topics, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of Texas Children’s Hospital. We will continue to prioritize patient care while ensuring we are in full compliance with all laws and legal directives.