Florida passed a law requiring hospitals to publicize the costs of unpaid care for migrants, and the reports thus far show that the loss to the state’s hospitals is a massive $566 million just in 2024 — and taxpayers are picking up much of that loss.
In May 2023, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718, requiring healthcare providers to note if patients are legal citizens. The purpose of the legislation was to ascertain just how much care for illegal aliens cost taxpayers and hospitals after the illegals were found unable to pay for their care.
In his statement at the time, DeSantis said:
In Florida, we will not stand idly by while the federal government abandons its lawful duties to protect our country. The legislation I signed today gives Florida the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country, fighting back against reckless federal government policies and ensuring the Florida taxpayers are not footing the bill for illegal immigration.