HHS will bar immigrants without legal citizenship status from accessing many federal mental health and substance use disorder programs.
In a July 10 news release, the agency said it will exclude undocumented individuals from federal public benefit programs. Previously, immigrants without legal status were able to access some programs under a 1998 interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
The affected mental health programs include certified community behavioral health clinics and any mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs administered by HHS.
The change takes effect immediately, HHS said in the statement.
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