Sac County raises barrier for indigent persons to receive medical services

In a press release, today, the County of Sacramento has made it much more difficult for U.S. citizens to receive medical services through CMISP [County Medically Indigent Services Program]. The release tells us new barriers to receive services begin today.

Non-citizens will be denied service unless they are legal immigrants. And American citizens [along with legal immigrants] will need to either come up with difficult-to-obtain proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status, or, for the citizen, get an affidavit. Quoting the press release, "a Written Affidavit signed under penalty of perjury by the [citizen] applicant and another individual with direct knowledge of the applicant’s citizenship will be accepted" in lieu of requested documentation.

The press release tells us, "Services for communicable diseases will continue to be provided without requiring eligibility for CMISP. Some examples of communicable diseases are tuberculosis, meningitis, and sexually transmitted diseases." Testing and receipt of a TB card is among these exempted services.

Documents that will prove U. S. citizenship or immigration status, to be eligible for CMISP, include the following. Copies of the documents will be accepted.

•Adoption Decree/Records
•Baptismal Certificate
•U. S. Public Birth Certificate
•Certification of Birth Abroad
•Church Records
•Census Records
•Hospital Records
•INS Certificate of Citizenship
•Indian Agency Records
•Northern Mariana ID Card
•Marriage/Divorce Records
•Military Records
•Naturalization Papers
•School Records
•U.S. Passport
•Document issued from Department of State
•Document issued from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)