PHOENIX — Saying the public deserves to know, both the House and Senate have approved a measure requiring hospitals that get public money to ask patients if they are in this country legally.
Strictly speaking, the identical proposal by Rep. Ralph Heap of Mesa and Sen. Wendy Rogers, approved on party line votes, are crafted so that answering the question on the patient admission form is optional.
There even would be a statement on the form saying that the answer will not affect the patient’s care and the response will not be reported to immigration authorities.
