Almost 300 Massachusetts Healthcare workers urge MA State Senate to pass bill to protecting immigrants, hospitals and healthcare workers caring for them
BOSTON, MA— As the Massachusetts State Senate plans to consider S.3072, the Senate version of the popular Massachusetts House Bill, known as the PROTECT Act, nearly 300 Massachusetts healthcare workers have signed a letter to Massachusetts State Senators, urging them to pass the Senate version of the popular bill. The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday, May 7. The letter was delivered to Massachusetts State Senators yesterday afternoon.
Physicians with the Health and Law Immigrant Solidarity Network (HLISN), authored the letter, urging the senators to pass the bill, and to include proposed amendments 12, 13, 15, 30, 51, which add additional protections for hospitals and healthcare workers.
“We are hearing from healthcare workers across the Commonwealth that they can no longer do their jobs,” said Dr. Lara Jirmanus, family physician and HLISN founder. “Our patients have been afraid to show up for visits. Some of them are afraid to leave the house, send kids to school or even buy groceries. We can’t take care of patients who are too afraid to show up.”
“Hundreds of clinicians have attested that patients have been cancelling or not keeping appointments due to fear of encountering ICE in our clinics and hospitals…” the letter said. “Currently, limited guidance and protections for health care workers who take action to support their immigrant patients’ rights leads to confusion, stress, and can worsen burnout amongst an already overstretched and challenged health care workforce.”
In particular, advocates were concerned about the looming threat of ICE entering healthcare settings, alleged ICE violence against emergency response workers, as has been seen in Oregon, Minnesota, Maine and other states, and the lack of protections for healthcare workers taking care of patients in ICE custody.
“Hard working resident doctors have been disciplined for doing their jobs, trying to make sure that all patients get high quality care that respects their humanity, autonomy and Constitutional right,” said Dr. Brett Lewis, Regional Vice President the Committee on Interns and Residents, the largest physician union in the U.S. “S3072 and amendments 12 and 13 go a long way to protect hospitals and health systems as we do our best to give everyone the care they deserve.”
Amendment 12 enumerates the rights of hospital patients in ICE custody. Clinicians from many of Massachusetts top hospitals have attested to witnessing multiple rights violations, including immigration enforcement officers denying patients the right to communicate confidentially with their physicians, and to speak with an attorney. Amendment 13 provides protections against retaliation for healthcare workers and Amendment 15 requires public reporting of healthcare provider compliance with the legislation.
The healthcare industry continues to face substantial financial challenges due to the pandemic healthcare worker shortage, and increasing costs for labor, drugs, and supplies. In this context, ideologically-motivated attacks against immigrants and Medicaid cuts threaten the stability of an already precarious healthcare economy.
“In Massachusetts, one in five healthcare workers are immigrants,” said Dr. Jim Recht, letter signatory and HLISN member. “Immigrants make our communities and our health systems great. Protecting immigrants protects our immigration workforce and access to healthcare for all residents of the Commonwealth.”
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