Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Executive Order Over “Birth Tourism,” Targets Hospitals and Providers

The governor of Texas is targeting hospitals and providers to put a stop to so-called “birth tourism” schemes.

This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate so-called “birth tourism” packages earlier this month.

Abbott issued an executive order on Tuesday directing state agencies to investigate and eliminate the unlawful “schemes” in Texas. The order will hold accountable any licensed healthcare provider involved.

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The executive order directs the Texas HHSC, the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to investigate claims of birth tourism schemes within Texas’ healthcare industry.

When he initially launched the investigation, Abbott claimed that Mission Regional Medical Center in the Rio Grande Valley advertised the service, inviting foreign travelers to give birth in Texas in order to get U.S. citizenship for their children.

The medical center said in a statement that it was sharing information about the healthcare services it provides, “like hospitals across the country,” and that the marketing materials mentioned are no longer in use.

According to the governor’s order, enforcement actions include revoking or suspending licenses, prohibiting participation in state contracts, denying state benefits, or taking other enforcement action under state law.

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