Florida's Medicaid Spending on Emergency Healthcare for Undocumented Immigrants Drops 54% After New Immigration Law

Florida, United States United States of America
Decrease in spending amounts to $81 million compared to previous fiscal year
Florida's Medicaid spending on emergency healthcare for undocumented immigrants dropped 54% following new immigration law
Number of authorizations for emergency Medicaid payments dropped from 147,000 in FY22 to 99,000 as of April 30, 2023
Florida's Medicaid Spending on Emergency Healthcare for Undocumented Immigrants Drops 54% After New Immigration Law

Florida's Medicaid spending on emergency healthcare for undocumented immigrants has dropped significantly following the implementation of a new immigration law. The Florida Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has seen a 54% drop in expenditures billed to Medicaid this year, with less than two months remaining in the fiscal year. This decrease in spending amounts to $81 million compared to the previous fiscal year.

The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last year, requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status when they seek treatment. While patients are not required to answer, immigrant rights groups have expressed concerns that the mandate may deter undocumented immigrants from seeking necessary medical attention due to fear of repercussions.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has reported a decrease in authorizations for emergency Medicaid payments for undocumented immigrants. In fiscal year 2022, there were 147,000 authorizations; in 2023, this number dropped to 116,000. As of April 30 of this year, only 99,000 authorizations have been recorded.

Approximately half of the Emergency Medical Assistance spending goes towards pregnant women who have gone into labor. However, it is important to note that Florida's health care system is designed to serve and prioritize legal United States citizens. Undocumented immigrants with medical necessities will still be treated by a hospital.

Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition has reported signs of fallout from the law, including an exodus of migrants from Florida. Critics argue that there is no evidence directly linking the new law to the decrease in Medicaid spending, pointing instead to an overall decline in undocumented immigrants seeking medical care in the state.

Leonardo Cuello, Director of Health Policy at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy's Center for Children and Families, has stated that there is no proof that the law has caused a decrease in Medicaid spending. He suggests that other factors, such as changes in immigration patterns or healthcare-seeking behavior, may be responsible for the decline.

Despite these differing opinions, it is clear that Florida's Medicaid spending on emergency healthcare for undocumented immigrants has experienced a significant reduction since the new immigration law took effect.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the decrease in Medicaid spending is directly linked to the new immigration law
  • There may be other factors contributing to the decline in undocumented immigrants seeking medical care in Florida

Sources

77%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Florida Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants plummets after new law

Politico News Site Name: POLITICO Full Legal Name of News Site: Politico LLC Location of News Site: Washington D.C., USA Sunday, 23 June 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Florida’s Medicaid program spending on emergency health care for undocumented immigrants has dropped by 54% since the state’s new immigration law took effect.
    • Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law last year directing hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status when they seek treatment.
    • The Florida Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has seen a 54% drop in expenditures billed to Medicaid this year, with less than two months remaining in the fiscal year.
    • Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said there have been signs of fallout from the law, including an exodus of migrants from Florida.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes several statements that are misleading or lack context. The title implies that the decrease in Medicaid spending is solely due to the new law, but there is no concrete evidence provided to support this claim. The author also quotes Kennedy stating 'there have been other signs of fallout', but does not provide any details about what these signs are. Additionally, the article mentions that federal law requires states to provide limited Medicaid coverage for migrants facing a medical emergency, but fails to mention that this coverage is only for certain types of emergencies and does not include routine or preventative care. Lastly, the article quotes Cuello stating 'Do we want the mothers of U.S. citizen babies avoiding the hospital when they unexpectedly go into labor?' without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
    • Do we want the mothers of U.S. citizen babies avoiding the hospital when they unexpectedly go into labor?
    • There have been other signs of fallout.
    • The DeSantis administration and other Florida Republicans say any marked decreases in spending are signs his immigration crackdown is working.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that 'Florida’s Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has seen a 54 percent drop in expenditures billed to Medicaid this year' and 'Medicaid expenditures are only part of the financial burden that illegal immigration places on the state's hospital system'. These statements are made without providing any evidence or data from a credible source to support the claim that the decrease in spending is directly related to the new law or that illegal immigration places a significant financial burden on hospitals. Additionally, there is an instance of inflammatory rhetoric when it states 'the current state of inaction in Washington DC is unacceptable'. This statement does not provide any logical argument or evidence to support the claim and serves only to inflame emotions.
    • ]Florida’s Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has seen a 54 percent drop in expenditures billed to Medicaid this year[
    • Medicaid expenditures are only part of the financial burden that illegal immigration places on the state's hospital system
  • Bias (80%)
    The article mentions the 'exodus of migrants in Florida' and quotes Thomas Kennedy stating that there have been signs of fallout from the law. These statements imply a negative view towards undocumented immigrants and suggest that they are a burden on the state's healthcare system. This can be considered as anti-immigrant bias.
    • Obviously, there’s been somewhat of an exodus of migrants in Florida.
      • There have been other signs of fallout.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      92%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Migrant Medicaid costs cut in half in Florida following DeSantis' policy change: report

      Fox News Media Michael Lee Monday, 24 June 2024 00:31
      • Unique Points
        • The amount of Medicaid money Florida has paid out to undocumented migrants has been cut by over 50% after a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
        • Florida’s Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has had a 54% reduction in spending this year, falling from $148.4 million to $67 million with two months to go in the fiscal year.
        • The law was signed last year and directs hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status, though it does not require migrants to provide an answer.
        • In FY 2023, the state spent $148.4 million on Medicaid for undocumented migrants, which dropped to $67 million in the current fiscal year.
        • Florida approved over 147,000 emergency authorizations in FY 2022, dropping to 116,000 in 2023 and only making 99,00 so far in FY.2o24.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (70%)
        The article by Michael Lee contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports the reduction in Medicaid spending on undocumented migrants without mentioning that this decrease started before the new law was enacted. Furthermore, the author uses phrases like 'dramatic drop' and 'sign his policies are working' to elicit an emotional response from readers.
        • The law has been part of DeSantis's overall crackdown on illegal immigration, moves he claims have been made necessary by the Biden administration's policies at the southern border.
        • Federal law does ban undocumented migrants from being eligible for Medicaid, but it provides a carveout that requires states to offer limited coverage to migrants facing a medical emergency. Immigrant advocacy groups raised fears the new law would scare away migrants from seeking emergency medical attention in the state, the report notes, though the DeSantis administration has touted the results as a sign his policies are working.
        • The dramatic drop comes after DeSantis signed a law last year that directed hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status, the report notes, though the law does not require migrants to provide the hospitals with an answer.
        • The amount of Medicaid money Florida has paid out to undocumented migrants has been cut by over half after a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
        • That year, the state spent $171.4 million, a number that dropped to $148.4 million in FY 2023.
      • Fallacies (95%)
        The article by Michael Lee contains two potential fallacies: an appeal to authority and a hasty generalization. The appeal to authority occurs when the author cites the Politico report as evidence of a reduction in Medicaid spending for undocumented migrants in Florida without providing any context or analysis of the report's findings. The hasty generalization is made when the author states that 'critics have claimed that there is no evidence it [the law] is responsible for the drop in spending,' without presenting any evidence to support this claim. However, since these fallacies do not significantly impact the overall integrity of the article and are not repeated throughout, I am scoring this article a 95.
        • 'Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address.' (This is not a fallacy but an instruction from the website.)
        • 'The amount of Medicaid money Florida has paid out to undocumented migrants has been cut by over half after a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.'
        • 'Critics of the law have claimed that there is no evidence it is responsible for the drop in spending.'
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      78%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Florida Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants plummets after new law

      Yahoo News US Arek Sarkissian Monday, 24 June 2024 00:32
      • Unique Points
        • Florida’s Medicaid program spending on emergency healthcare for undocumented immigrants has dropped by 54% since the state’s new immigration law took effect.
        • Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law last year that requires hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status when they seek treatment.
        • The Florida Emergency Medical Assistance program for undocumented immigrants has seen a decrease of $81 million in Medicaid spending this fiscal year compared to the previous one.
        • About half of the Emergency Medical Assistance spending goes towards pregnant women who have gone into labor.
        • The state’s health care system is designed to serve and prioritize legal United States citizens, but those with medical necessities will still be treated by a hospital.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (30%)
        The article makes several statements that are misleading or lack context. The author claims that 'Florida's Medicaid program spends to provide emergency health care to undocumented migrants has dropped significantly', but does not provide any context as to why this might be the case or if it is a result of the new law. The author also states that 'there have been other signs of fallout', but again, no evidence is provided for these claims. The article also uses emotional manipulation by implying that undocumented immigrants are a financial burden on taxpayers and hospitals, without providing any concrete evidence to support this claim.
        • The DeSantis administration and other Florida Republicans say any marked decreases in spending are signs his immigration crackdown is working.
        • This will have terrible long-term consequences for Florida.
        • Do we want the mothers of U.S. citizen babies avoiding the hospital when they unexpectedly go into labor?
        • There have been other signs of fallout.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The author makes an appeal to authority by citing the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as sources for Medicaid spending data. However, no formal fallacies were found in the article.
        • ]The DeSantis administration and other Florida Republicans say any marked decreases in spending are signs his immigration crackdown is working.[
      • Bias (80%)
        The author uses language that depicts undocumented immigrants as a financial burden on the state's hospital system and implies that they are avoiding seeking medical attention due to the new law. This could be seen as an example of anti-immigrant bias.
        • By shedding light on the true cost burden of illegal immigration we hope to bring awareness to the citizens of Florida and the United States as a whole.
          • Do we want the mothers of U.S. citizen babies avoiding the hospital when they unexpectedly go into labor?
            • The current state of inaction in Washington DC is unacceptable, and this crisis must be addressed.
              • There have been other signs of fallout.
                • The spending drop represents a dramatic spike in the rate of decline.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                82%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Medicaid spending on migrants in Florida plummets after DeSantis crackdown on illegals: report

                New York Post Ryan King Sunday, 23 June 2024 19:15
                • Unique Points
                  • Florida’s Medicaid spending on migrants has decreased by 54% this year compared to last fiscal year.
                  • Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation last year requiring hospitals to ask patients about their citizenship status and report the breakdown of citizenship among those who received treatment.
                • Accuracy
                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                • Deception (30%)
                  The article by Ryan King contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports on the decrease in Medicaid spending for migrants without mentioning the potential reasons behind it, such as fear of revealing their immigration status due to DeSantis' law. This creates a misleading impression that the decrease is solely due to DeSantis' crackdown. Additionally, the article uses phrases like 'observers fear' and 'some observers fear', which are emotional manipulations intended to elicit a negative response from readers.
                  • The Florida governor has embarked on a crackdown against illegal immigrants coming into the Sunshine State.
                  • Some observers fear that DeSantis’ move to force people to reveal their immigration status at hospitals is keeping them away from seeking urgent care, thus driving down the Medicaid spending.
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It uses loaded language such as 'crackdown on illegals' and 'push back against illegal immigration', which is inflammatory. The author also relies on Politico's data without questioning it, which is an appeal to authority. No formal logical fallacies were found in the text itself.
                  • The Florida governor has embarked on a crackdown against illegal immigrants coming into the Sunshine State.
                • Bias (95%)
                  The author, Ryan King, demonstrates a clear bias against illegal immigrants by focusing on the decrease in Medicaid spending on them and implying that this is a negative outcome. He also uses language like 'observers fear' and 'some observers fear' to suggest that there is a problem with DeSantis' crackdown on illegal immigration, without providing any evidence or reasoning for this concern.
                  • But those DCF authorizations appear to have dropped as well, from 147,000 in fiscal year 2022 to 116,000 in 2023, and now to 99,000 as of April 30.
                    • Some observers fear that DeSantis’ move to force people to reveal their immigration status at hospitals is keeping them away from seeking urgent care, thus driving down the Medicaid spending.
                      • The Florida governor has embarked on a crackdown against illegal immigrants coming into the Sunshine State.
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication