Assessing immigration status and eligibility for publicly funded medical care: a questionnaire for public health professionals.

摘要

OBJECTIVES: After reviewing the requirements for establishing a legal presence in the United States and securing health care services under Medicaid and Medicare, this article reports on a questionnaire developed to determine patients' documentation status and eligibility for publicly funded medical care. METHODS: The questionnaire was developed based on an integration of the relevant provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Social Security Act. RESULTS: The questionnaire is both valid and reliable when compared with an instrument currently used by immigration attorneys. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment is useful provided there is no requirement that undocumented individuals be reported to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.