ASSESSING IMMIGRATION STATUS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDICAL-CARE - A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PUBLIC-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Objectives. After reviewing the requirements for establishing a legal presence in the United States and securing health care services under Medicaid and Medicare, this article reports an a questionnaire develop ed to determine patients' documentation status and eligibility for pub licly funded medical care. Methods. The questionnaire was developed ba sed on an integration of the relevant provisions of the Immigration an d Nationality Act and the Social Security Act. Results. The questionna ire is both valid and reliable when compared with an instrument curren tly used by immigration attorneys. Conclusions. This assessment is use ful provided there is no requirement that undocumented individuals be reported to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.