AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed an executive order directing multiple state agencies to investigate and crack down on unlawful “birth tourism” schemes.
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This expands on an effort launched earlier this month, looking into hospitals accused of marketing childbirth services to foreign nationals.
Texas mandates probe into healthcare providers
WISE, VA – JULY 25: A nurse checks a patient’s blood pressure at the Remote Area Medical (RAM), healthcare clinic July 25, 2008 in Wise, Virginia. The free weekend clinic, staffed by more than 1,400 vollunteer dentists, doctors and medical personel,
What we know:
Abbott’s executive order states that hospitals and other entities have sought to profit from so-called “birth tourism” by encouraging non-citizens to travel to the United States illegally, or under false pretenses, to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children.
The executive order requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC), the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to investigate allegations of “birth tourism” within Texas’ healthcare industry, as well as take action against licensed individuals or entities found to be participating in the practice.
The order also cites recent federal efforts to prioritize investigations into “birth tourism” schemes and references actions previously taken by the Texas attorney general against businesses accused of facilitating the practice.
License revocations and penalties
Dig deeper:
Under the order, agencies are directed to pursue enforcement actions that could include:
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- Suspending or revoking professional licenses
- Barring entities from state contracts
- Denying state benefits
- Taking other actions authorized under state law.
The agencies are also authorized, with the governor’s approval, to work with federal prosecutors by sharing information and referring potential violations of federal law.
State leadership targets “birth tourism”
What they’re saying:
“Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child,” Abbott said in a statement announcing the order. “This executive order directs state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and hold accountable any provider that facilitates this fraud. U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism.”
Probe expands after South Texas hospital investigation
The backstory:
The order expands on action Abbott announced July 7, when he directed HHSC to investigate reports that Texas hospitals were advertising childbirth packages to foreign nationals.
According to the governor’s office, HHSC has since referred two Texas hospitals to the Texas Attorney General over allegations they advertised fixed-price “birth packages” in Mexico. One of those investigations involves Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, Texas.
Mission Regional Medical Center has denied facilitating unlawful activity.
Related
South Texas hospital under investigation by state for alleged ‘birth tourism’ scheme
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an immediate investigation into a South Texas hospital over allegations that it illegally marketed “birth packages” to foreign nationals to profit from birth tourism.
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