12/27/2024
As per Executive Order GA-46 issued by Governor Greg Abbott on August 8, 2024, Medicaid providers must collect information on hospital costs related to immigration status.
What you need to do
Hospitals began collecting the information as of November 1, 2024, and will begin reporting on March 1, 2025. Providers must ask each patient during the hospital intake process and report quarterly to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission the number of inpatient discharges and emergency visits by patients who are:
- A citizen or alien lawfully present in the U.S., or
- An alien not lawfully present in the U.S.
Hospital providers must also report quarterly to HHSC the cost of care for patients who are not lawfully in the U.S.
As required by federal law, when collecting information about the patient’s immigration status, hospital providers must notify the patient their response will not affect patient care. The reporting form is available on the Texas Health and Human Services website.
Hospitals must submit the Executive Order GA-46 form following the outline below:
- March 1, 2025 – Information for September, October and November due (for this first year there will be no reporting for September or October).
- June 1, 2025 – Information for September through February due.
- September 1, 2025 – Information for September through May due.
- December 1, 2025 – Information for September through August due.
- January 1, 2026 – HHSC will provide the report to the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House on the proceeding year’s costs.
Each time data is submitted, information must be provided for all applicable months. Data for previously reported months must be updated or provided again as appropriate.
If you have questions or require assistance, please reach out to our Medicaid Provider Network Team at 1-855-212-1615 or email Texas Medicaid Network Department.