As frontline physicians caring for patients in every community, our organizations strongly oppose the final public charge rule announced last week. This rule deepens fear and uncertainty for immigrant families and will lead patients—including children who are U.S. citizens—to avoid vital healthcare, nutrition and housing supports for which they are eligible.
Physicians are already seeing the consequences of harmful policies and aggressive immigration enforcement in our exam rooms and communities. Families are missing appointments, delaying needed care and facing impossible choices because they fear that seeking help could put their future in this country at risk. Last week’s rule creates more confusion for patients and makes it harder for physicians to keep families healthy.
Healthcare works best when patients can trust their physicians and seek the care and services they need without fear. Policies that deter families from accessing care make children, pregnant patients, adults and entire communities less healthy. We urge the administration to withdraw this harmful rule and instead advance policies that protect patient health, strengthen the patient-physician relationship and ensure that every family can get the care they need.
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AOA media contact
Cristobal Martinez
Director, Corporate Communications and Reputation
(312) 202-8169
cmartinez@osteopathic.org
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 207,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; and serves as the primary certifying body for DOs. To learn more about DOs and the osteopathic philosophy of medicine, visit Osteopathic.org.
About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 124,500 physicians and medical students. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician’s career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about healthcare, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s patient education website, familydoctor.org.
About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 162,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
About the American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 40,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit psychiatry.org.
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