Compliance Corner – Immigration Enforcement in Health Care Facilities

California Senate Bill-81

California Senate Bill-81 was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom. This new law aims to safeguard patient privacy by restricting immigration enforcement activities in California health care facilities. Under this bill, a patient’s immigration status and place of birth are now protected health information under California’s medical privacy law (CMIA). Additionally, health care providers in California may not share information with immigration authorities without a valid warrant or court order. In response to this new law, UCR Health has designated the front office counter areas and back areas of clinics (behind the badge access doors in the waiting room) as nonpublic areas. Immigration officials may not have access to these areas without a valid warrant or court order. The UCR Office of Campus Counsel must review and verify the validity of any warrant or court order that is produced, prior to access being granted. More education on these policy updates will be made available in the coming months. If you have questions, please reach out to Compliance.