In a new TikTok video, a Texas Children’s Hospital doctor has been caught encouraging patients to skip a new question on intake forms asking if they are United States citizens.
Earlier this year, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report data regarding the financial burden of providing medical care to illegal aliens.
According to Abbott, Texas is aiming to hold the Biden-Harris administration accountable by ensuring the federal government reimburses the state because Texans have had to shoulder the medical costs of illegal aliens.
Texas hospitals that accept either Medicaid funding or Children’s Health Insurance Program plans have been prompted to ask “Are you a U.S. citizen?” on patient intake forms to comply with the executive order and collect information on illegal aliens’ total medical costs.
Though the American Civil Liberties Union has reportedly said that answering the question is not legally required, Texas Children’s Hospital doctor Tony Pastor has gone viral for posting a video on TikTok saying that people who visit TCH should purposefully skew collection of data by refusing to answer the question altogether.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if everyone who comes in doesn’t answer it, and it really messes with whatever data that they’re looking for,” Pastor said.
In the video, the Texas Children’s Hospital employee described himself as a “gay doctor” who has gone viral several times in the past for filming “cute videos of my boyfriend” and “thirst-trap” videos—which are either videos or posts specifically intended to induce sexual attraction.
The video got the attention of Abbott, who warned that both TCH and Baylor College of Medicine, where Pastor is an assistant professor, better have clear records by the due date of reporting.
“Hey Texas Children’s Hospital & Baylor College of Medicine, this doctor is putting your Medicaid and Medicare funding at risk,” Abbott posted Monday on X. “You better think twice & have crystal clear records.”
“There will be consequences for failing to follow the law in the Executive Order,” he concluded.
Texas Children’s Hospital declined to respond to a request for comment by Texas Scorecard. Pastor also did not respond.
