State Plans to Deny Prenatal Care for Illegal Immigrants Starting March 1

California plans to begin denying subsidized prenatal care to tens of thousands of illegal immigrant women on March 1, Gov. Pete Wilson’s office said Thursday.

The announcement follows a state appellate court ruling last week that removed a lower-court stay on the planned prohibition, long an objective of Gov. Wilson’s. However, the state effort still faces two separate court challenges that could result in the implementation date being pushed back once again.

Under the governor’s plan, illegal immigrants who submit new applications for prenatal care under the Medi-Cal program will be denied aid as of March 1. The approximately 70,000 existing recipients who lack legal immigration status will be removed from the rolls as of April 1, said Lisa Kalustian, a Wilson spokeswoman.

Gov. Wilson opposes the $84 million a year expenditure on prenatal aid for undocumented women as an incentive for illegal immigration. Defenders say the aid reduces health threats to mothers and children and helps curb the spread of infectious disease.