Public charge rule permanently blocked

The federal public charge rule, which uses people’s receipt of public benefits like Medicaid against them for immigration purposes, is now blocked after the Biden Administration reversed the government’s position in litigation defending the controversial policy. WSHA opposed the public charge rule when it was first proposed because of its chilling effect on people seeking health care and how it undermined immigrants’ ability to lead healthy, productive lives. We are very pleased the new administration walked away from this indefensible rule and look forward to the administration’s next steps that will result from its review of this harmful rule’s impact.