AAP Statement on Final Public Charge Rule

By: Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics

“The final public charge rule issued today by the Biden Administration is a welcome and overdue step to protect immigrant families. Pediatricians have witnessed the chilling effects of the prior administration’s harmful changes to this policy in our own patients, with families disenrolling from or avoiding critical healthcare, nutrition and housing programs for which they or their children were eligible. The work to undo these impacts will take time, and additional action from the federal government.

“As we continue to navigate the pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx families, we need all federal agencies to make clear, consistent communications to families that they can access needed health care without fear. We are committed to doing our job as pediatricians, providing care to children and working to ensure they are eligible for and can access nutritious foods, safe and stable housing, and economic supports regardless of their immigration status. We urge the government to continue its efforts to do the same.”

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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. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds