Providing Healthcare for Migrants in a Troubled Immigration Environment
TL/DR –
The article discusses the influence of immigration environment and perceptions on migrants’ health and healthcare usage in the United States. It suggests that healthcare and public health providers can facilitate access to healthcare for migrants by clarifying their non-involvement in immigration enforcement, explaining their record access policies, defining rules regarding immigration penalties and health service use, and reinforcing the confidentiality rights of migrants. The article advocates for public health representatives to anticipate and prepare for potentially hostile future immigration-related discourse and legislation.
Supporting Migrant Health in Troubled Immigration Environment
Migrants account for over 14% of the U.S. population. Their health and healthcare use are greatly influenced by their perception of immigration laws and the immigration environment. In fact, healthcare and public health providers can take steps to ensure migrants do not avoid healthcare due to fear or misunderstanding and to support their health in challenging immigration circumstances.
Some suggestions include clarifying that healthcare and public health organizations have no role in immigration enforcement, and explaining rules about immigration penalties and health service use. Providers should also clearly communicate policies on record transfer, access, and storage, as well as affirm the confidentiality rights of migrants, equal to those of U.S. residents. Given the potential for future hostile immigration-related discourse and legislation, it’s important for public health representatives to include this in their preparedness efforts.
Keywords:
Immigration environment; immigration policy; legislation; migrant health; migrant healthcare utilization.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
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More references can be accessed here.
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