New Utah immigration law could affect health services

An immigration law that takes effect on July 1 could limit some health-care services for illegal immigrants.

SB81 requires agencies providing certain government-funded health benefits to verify that patients are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Health officials are waiting for guidance from the attorney general's office on which services will be affected by the new law.

Health-care providers like Bruce Costa, executive director of the Central Utah Public Heath Department, said they're worried some patients won't seek care, even in cases where their legal status won't be checked.

For example, Costa wonders whether some parents who are undocumented will decide not to get vaccines for their children, even though the law doesn't apply to immunizations.

"There's going to be a lot of hesitation out there, for sure," Costa said.

Patients who lie about their status could face criminal penalties.

There's also concern that undocumented immigrants who don't get health care will end up in emergency rooms, which are costlier and can cause higher premiums for people with insurance and force hospitals to write off unpaid services as bad debt or charity care.

"There's no question the people we see in our mobile clinic, if we were not here, would end up in the ER at a tremendous cost to our system," said Kurt Micka, of the nonprofit Utah Partners for Health.

The new law excludes emergency care, vaccines and testing and treatment for communicable diseases. And advocates say it likely won't affect services for children.

Public health officials and community groups are expected to meet with the attorney general's office later this month to discuss the new law.

SB81 is the same legislation that will allow local officers to enforce federal immigration law. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has said participation in the enforcement provision is optional and that many local police departments are opting out.