Latest news with #THHSC
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Texas Health and Human Services Commission warns of data breach, impacting tens of thousands
Texas Health and Human Services Commission is warning Texans about a recent data breach involving employees. In addition to the Texans impacted by the privacy breach first reported on Jan. 17, THHSC said the personal information of 33,529 other recipients of agency services may have been leaked. At least 94,000 total Texans have been impacted to date. Leaked data includes full names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, Social Security numbers, Medicaid and Medicare identification numbers, financial, employment, banking, benefits, health, insurance, medical, certificate, license and other personal information. The breach happened between June 2021 and January 2025. THHSC said it terminated nine employees in connection to the incident and that it's pursuing criminal charges. As a result, THHSC said it is strengthening internal security controls and working to implement additional fraud prevention measures, including enhanced monitoring and alerts to detect suspicious activity. SNAP recipients are advised to check their Lone Star Card transactions for possible fraud activity and to report it to law enforcement. THHSC said the data that was accessed, used or disclosed is not the same for everyone. Two years of free credit monitoring and theft protection services is being offered to impacted Texans.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas hospitals hit with $122 million bill for illegal immigrants' care in single month
Texas hospitals were left on the hook for nearly $122 million in health care costs racked up by illegal immigrants for one month last year, the first month the state began tracking the figures. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order in August mandating the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) to track the number of "individuals not lawfully present" in the U.S. who used Texas public hospitals. The first report, released Friday, shows more than 31,000 hospital visits by illegal immigrants in November alone — costing Texas hospitals $121.8 million. Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs For Illegal Immigrants Sparks Border State Outcry Abbott's executive order directed Texas hospitals to provide THHSC with quarterly breakdowns on patients who are not lawfully present in the U.S., including the number of inpatient discharges, emergency department visits and the cost of care provided to these patients. Though the $121.8 million incurred represents the month of November 2024, future reports will include full quarterly data, THHSC said. The agency will release its first yearly report of data collected from hospital providers Jan. 1, 2026. Read On The Fox News App THHSC said that hospital providers inform patients that their immigration status responses do not affect their care, as required by federal law. Texas, a border state, reported some of the highest crossing numbers ever recorded under the Biden administration, putting immense pressure on its healthcare system, Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's press secretary, told Fox News Digital. Newsom Concedes Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs For Illegals Are 'Partial' Contributor To Medicaid Problem "Many of these illegal immigrants are straining the Texas hospital system, which is why Governor Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to begin assessing the cost of care," Mahaleris said. "Now, Texas has reliable data on the dramatic financial impact that illegal immigration is having on our hospital system." Mahaleris praised President Donald Trump's "swift action" in securing the southern border, noting that illegal crossings have dropped to record lows. "Texas is hopeful that [Trump's] efforts to remove those who entered unlawfully may also cause these healthcare costs to decline." Last week, the Texas House Committee on Public Health heard testimony about a bill by Fort Worth Republican Rep. Mike Olcott's that would make Abbott's executive order a law, Fox 26 Houston reported. Meanwhile, the Texas Hospitals Association, the principal advocate for the state's hospitals and healthcare systems, said that the fact that hospitals are required to collect this data should not be a deterrent for people in need of care. "With 24/7 life-saving care, hospitals are required by law to treat anyone who comes through the door, regardless of ability to pay, regardless of their demographics," the association said in a statement. The fact that hospitals are required to collect this data should not be a deterrent for people in need of care. Hospitals remain open and ready to serve Texans' acute care needs."Original article source: Texas hospitals hit with $122 million bill for illegal immigrants' care in single month
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Texas hospitals hit with $122 million bill for illegal immigrants' care in single month
Texas hospitals were left on the hook for nearly $122 million in health care costs racked up by illegal immigrants for one month last year, the first month the state began tracking the figures. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order in August mandating the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) to track the number of "individuals not lawfully present" in the U.S. who used Texas public hospitals. The first report, released Friday, shows more than 31,000 hospital visits by illegal immigrants in November alone — costing Texas hospitals $121.8 million. Abbott's executive order directed Texas hospitals to provide THHSC with quarterly breakdowns on patients who are not lawfully present in the U.S., including the number of inpatient discharges, emergency department visits and the cost of care provided to these patients. Though the $121.8 million incurred represents the month of November 2024, future reports will include full quarterly data, THHSC said. The agency will release its first yearly report of data collected from hospital providers Jan. 1, 2026. THHSC said that hospital providers inform patients that their immigration status responses do not affect their care, as required by federal law. Texas, a border state, reported some of the highest crossing numbers ever recorded under the Biden administration, putting immense pressure on its healthcare system, Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's press secretary, told Fox News Digital. "Many of these illegal immigrants are straining the Texas hospital system, which is why Governor Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to begin assessing the cost of care," Mahaleris said. "Now, Texas has reliable data on the dramatic financial impact that illegal immigration is having on our hospital system." Mahaleris praised President Donald Trump's "swift action" in securing the southern border, noting that illegal crossings have dropped to record lows. "Texas is hopeful that [Trump's] efforts to remove those who entered unlawfully may also cause these healthcare costs to decline." Last week, the Texas House Committee on Public Health heard testimony about a bill by Fort Worth Republican Rep. Mike Olcott's that would make Abbott's executive order a law, Fox 26 Houston reported. Meanwhile, the Texas Hospitals Association, the principal advocate for the state's hospitals and healthcare systems, said that the fact that hospitals are required to collect this data should not be a deterrent for people in need of care. "With 24/7 life-saving care, hospitals are required by law to treat anyone who comes through the door, regardless of ability to pay, regardless of their demographics," the association said in a statement. The fact that hospitals are required to collect this data should not be a deterrent for people in need of care. Hospitals remain open and ready to serve Texans' acute care needs."
