There are millions of legal immigrants who depend on programs like
Medicaid — and now, after the Trump administration revamped a nearly
140-year-old immigration rule, there's growing concern that many will
drop out.
First, Ted Hesson joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how the new
"public charge" rule would work (starts at the 2:00-minute mark), White
House official Stephen Miller's role in driving the plan (8:05) and the
broader immigration changes underway (12:00).
Then, Dr. Omolara Uwemedimo of Northwell Health explains her background
as the daughter of immigrants and her work as a pediatrician (starts at
the 17:05-minute mark), how she sees immigrant patients being affected
by the new rule (20:45) and her broader observations on how immigration
and health care collide (26:00).
MENTIONED ON THE SHOW
Immigration official Ken Cuccinelli appeared on NPR last week to defend
the public charge rule — and twist the inscription on the Statue of
Liberty.
The Urban Institute reviewed how the public charge rule could affect
immigrants' use of government programs like Medicaid.
The Kaiser Family Foundation also prepared a fact sheet on the rule's
impact.
Ted's story about Stephen Miller's close involvement in the public
charge rule, complete with Miller's emails.
Ted also broke news about how the State Department's public charge
denials have already skyrocketed, a possible precursor to national
implementation of the new rule.
Dr. Uwemedimo's op-ed in Newsweek about her family's immigration story
and why she's worried about the public charge rule's impact.
Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health — the largest health care
provider in New York — is himself an immigrant from Ireland.
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