Birthright Case Could Slow Early Health Care for Newborns

The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case could affect more than citizenship: experts warn that striking down automatic birthright status may delay newborns’ access to safety-net programs and essential tests done in the first days of life, such as jaundice screening, pulse oximetry for heart defects, and newborn metabolic/hearing screens. Hospitals would need to verify citizenship and obtain Social Security numbers, potentially slowing Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and routine pediatric care. Public-health advocates stress that even short administrative delays can jeopardize infants’ health, underscoring the broader health stakes of the case beyond legal status. The piece notes roughly 320,000 births in 2023 and cites advocates like Bruce Lesley of First Focus on Children and pediatrician Dr. Kim Avila on the importance of timely newborn care.