Texas health officials referred birth-tourism allegations involving two South Texas hospitals to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) after receiving reports that a billboard in a foreign country advertised Mission Regional Medical Center birth packages and directed viewers to a website that also listed Knapp Medical Center.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) announced the referral Tuesday, one week after directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center. The July 7 referral also names Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco. HHSC records list both facilities under Prime Healthcare Foundation Inc.
“Regardless of what the Supreme Court of the United States may have said, U.S. citizenship is not for sale in Texas,” Abbott said.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Abbott’s initial directive cited reports that Mission Regional advertised “BIRTH PACKAGES IN SOUTH TEXAS” in foreign countries. He ordered HHSC to examine possible violations of state law and contractual obligations and refer any potential violations to civil or criminal authorities.
Archived website identifies two hospitals
HHSC Chief Counsel Karen Ray wrote that the agency learned July 3 of public reports involving a billboard in a foreign country that promoted birth packages and named a Texas hospital. The billboard directed viewers to havemybabyinTEXAS.com.
The billboard displayed Mission Regional Medical Center’s branding and advertised South Texas birth packages for $3,950 for a natural delivery and $5,525 for a cesarean delivery. It directed viewers to havemybabyinTEXAS.com and displayed the number as 001-956-519-2055.
The site is no longer active, but an archived version identifies Mission Regional in Mission and Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco as participating hospitals, according to the referral.
The archived Spanish-language website marketed maternity services and delivery packages in South Texas, identified Mission Regional Medical Center and Knapp Medical Center, and stated that it provided medical services but not immigration advice. The website itself did not expressly advertise citizenship, immigration assistance or services specifically for foreign nationals.
“If true, this conduct is detrimental to the public interest and may violate both state and federal law,” Ray wrote.
Ray referred the matter to Paxton’s office “for investigation and appropriate legal action.” The letter does not identify a specific patient or transaction, state that either hospital committed an offense, or announce any finding of wrongdoing.
Mission Regional denies unlawful activity
Mission Regional said its maternity marketing materials are no longer in use and denied facilitating illegal conduct. In a statement provided to KRGV, the hospital said it shared information about medical services and plans to cooperate with state and local officials.
“We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity,” the hospital said.
Referral cites wider enforcement
Ray pointed to Paxton’s ongoing lawsuit against De’Ai Postpartum Care Center, a Houston-area operation accused of coaching foreign customers to conceal the purpose of their travel from federal immigration officials. As previously reported by DX, Paxton’s office alleges the center facilitated more than 1,000 births and violated Texas law.
The HHSC referral also says the Justice Department recently directed federal prosecutors to prioritize birth tourism cases that may involve visa fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, identity offenses or health care fraud. Ray stressed that the allegations involving Mission Regional and Knapp may not be identical to those other cases, but called them “equally troubling.”
Abbott urges public tips
Abbott’s office encouraged Texans with information about similar activity to contact the HHSC Office of Inspector General. The governor’s office also directed information about possible federal immigration or other federal violations to the Justice Department or the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office.
Provided by Dallas Express
