Opposed to proposal
In October, the Department of Homeland Security issued a proposed regulation that expands the “public charge” test, which is used to identify people who may depend primarily on the government for subsistence, including programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and WIC.
This proposal presents immigrant families with an impossible choice: Keep yourself or your children healthy but risk being separated, or forgo vital services like immunizations, preventative health care and food assistance so your family can remain together in this country.
The proposal also discriminates against those with pre-existing conditions.
The potential child health impact of the proposed regulation is massive and would include 9 million children.
Parents are removing themselves and their children from assistance programs they qualify for and depend on out of fear of being removed from the United States.
This proposal is yet another example of the heartless lack of concern of the current federal government for less fortunate families who are trying to make ends meet in this country.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is strongly opposed to this proposal and has called on the Trump administration to rescind it.
If you care for the health and welfare of millions of poor children in this country, as do I and my pediatrician colleagues, you will contact your senators and representative in Congress to oppose this nasty, mean-spirited proposal.
John Wegmann, MD,
Port Angeles