Undocumented immigrants visited Tarrant County emergency rooms 5,545 times from November through February, according to a body of data gathered by the state.
Visits to emergency rooms and inpatient care totaled over $28 million. Hospitals were instructed not to report payments received for that care, such as from insurance or out of pocket.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order a year ago requiring hospitals to report health care costs for treating undocumented patients. Abbott wrote in his order that providing health care to undocumented immigrants burdens the health care system and drives up costs…