Today, CPR released new materials detailing what the Department of Homeland Security’s public charge rule will mean for immigrants with disabilities if it goes into effect. A fact sheet reviewing the basics of the rule and its impact on people with disabilities is available here. A more in-depth explanation of the rule and the lawsuits challenging it can be found here.
The public charge rule is already creating fear and confusion and because of that, it is important to understand what it means. The rule is currently enjoined but if it goes into effect, it would radically alter the longstanding definition of public charge, expanding the benefits considered in making public charge determinations to include things like Medicaid HCBS, which are critical to the community integration of many people with disabilities, and weighing new factors against an applicant that were not previously considered, including an applicant’s health status. This would serve to exclude people from the US on the basis of disability and discourage immigrants already in the US and their family members from using public benefits.
You can find more resources and information on the rule and the latest updates on litigation on our Protect Our Medicaid site, here.