Santa Barbara County health officials are raising concerns after a new federal directive ordered that patients at federally funded health clinics must soon provide proof of citizenship to receive care. The measure has been put in place to restrict federal funds from being used on undocumented immigrants. However, it could significantly disrupt services at clinics designed to serve low-income and underserved populations.
Highlights
- As per a new federal directive, clinics must begin verifying citizenship to qualify for federal reimbursement.
- No formal guidance has been issued on how to implement the change.
- Santa Barbara officials stress that all patients will continue receiving care for now.
No Formal Announcements Have Been Made Yet
According to the July 10 directive, the policy is effective immediately, though a 30-day comment period is included. However, the federal government has not issued formal implementation guidelines, leaving county clinics uncertain about how to proceed. Until guidance is provided, Santa Barbara’s Public Health Department says clinics will continue to serve all patients, as stated on a press release issued on July 17, 2025.
“County Health Centers Maintain Access for All, Regardless of Citizenship Status. Public health depends on everyone feeling safe enough to seek care,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, the department’s chief executive. “Our health centers are safe places where patient privacy and rights are protected.”
Santa Barbara County operates eight Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which historically have not required immigration or citizenship documentation. These clinics were created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and were intended to expand access to care without regard to immigration status.
With roughly 240,000 Medi-Cal enrollees in the county, and an estimated 18 percent of the population being undocumented, up to 55,000 patients could be at risk of losing access to preventive care…