Selling U.S. citizenship? Arizona hospital markets to Mexican mothers-to-be

AOL ^ | Jul 10th 2009 | Tom Barlow

[Baladas]

Medical tourism usually involves U.S. citizens going abroad to obtain low-cost care for serious conditions. Now one Tucson, Arizona hospital is fighting back by marketing its delivery room to Mexican mothers-to-be. And those who choose to come north to give birth get something extra no other country can offer: U.S. citizenship for their child.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, for almost 30 years hospitals in the Southwest have served expectant mothers from other countries that come here to give birth, taking advantage of the Immigration and Nationality Act that makes anyone born in the U.S. a citizen.

[Baladas]

The health care industry is in such dire straits it has to recruit Mexicans?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I suggest you talk to Senator John McCain about this.

Oh. Wait. Nevermind! ;)

[Maine Mariner]

About 25 or 30 years ago Paul Harvey was talking about this issue.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yeah, nevermind.

[SunkenCiv]

Medical tourism usually involves U.S. citizens going abroad to obtain low-cost care for serious conditions. Now one Tucson, Arizona hospital is fighting back by marketing its delivery room to Mexican mothers-to-be. And those who choose to come north to give birth get something extra no other country can offer: U.S. citizenship for their child.

[Tennessee Nana]

Markets as in marketing ???

As in the customer actually PAYS ????

ROFLMBO

[dragnet2]

Throw in U.S. chiropractors, doctors, those in the therapy industry..Hospitals etc...

It's the entire system is ripe with fraud..

They'll sit there and tell illegal aliens, "Hey, this like a work related injury"....You know, to ensure they get paid for treatment rendered.

The entire medical system is teaming with fraud.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit Oxycontin

[jmaroneps37]

http://www.collinsreport.net/2009/07/02/it%e2%80%99s-legal-but-border-hospitals-are-still-betraying-us-by-selling-american-citizenship/

[iowamark]

""The center has created "birth packages" with options such as shopping excursions and spa stays. The packages are not tailored to the poor; a hospital spokesperson told the Star that some of its customers arrive on private jets. Although the packages aren't cheap (they range from $2,300 to $4,600), how much do you suppose an American citizenship is worth? If we auctioned one off, I'm sure it would sell for many times the cost of a "birth package," based on the value of the economic opportunities alone.""

At least this is legal and private pay. There is another hospital marketing technique which gets almost no publicity. Hospitals encourage illegal immigrants to come and give birth at their hospital. The hospital gets Medicaid payment and the child is a natural born citizen. Most Medicaid requires proof of citizenship but not for childbirth.