Los Angeles County health officials have expressed grave concerns over a new policy shift by the federal administration, which restricts undocumented Californians from federally funded health and social service programs. As reported in a statement released on Friday, the L.A. County Departments of Public Health, Health Services, and Mental Health are bracing themselves for the repercussions this policy change might bring to the community.
The L.A. County's health leadership asserts in their statement that they've been operating under the principle that health care is a universal human right, and they've pledged to continue to fight to provide services to all persons, regardless of immigration status. Nevertheless, they fear the recent policy decision is likely to seriously undermine their efforts. "We are deeply saddened by the federal administration’s decision to bar undocumented Californians from accessing critical federally funded health and social service programs," they averred.
This stance is echoed in a joint statement obtained by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), which outlines the potential adverse outcomes that could stem from this policy: increased emergency room visits, untreated illnesses, exacerbated mental health crises, and the rise of substance use disorders. "This new federal policy threatens to undermine that mission," the directors of the health departments lamented.
Highlighting the broad consequences of health care inaccessibility, the officials warned that the chilling effect goes beyond the undocumented community to also negatively affect U.S. citizens. This can potentially create a barrier to access for people who may now choose to stay away from health services due to fear and uncertainty. "Moreover, this action will have a chilling effect on all patients seeking care," the officials said, expressing concern about how widespread avoidance of health services could negatively impact public health as a whole.
As they continue to gauge the full implications of the federal policy change, the L.A. County health departments have reaffirmed their resolve to provide care to those in need, urging federal leaders to reconsider the policy. The healthcare directors underscored that the denial of access to healthcare only serves to deepen systemic inequalities and harm the health and dignity of vulnerable populations. "We urge federal leaders to reconsider policies that deny health care to vulnerable members of our communities and instead prioritize the health, dignity, and humanity of every person," the statement concluded.
