Illegal aliens who fall at border are costing U.S. hospitals

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | 3/18/02 | August Gribbin

[Jethro Tull]

Illegal aliens who fall ill or injure themselves sneaking across the Mexican border are forcing many U.S. hospitals to the brink of bankruptcy.

The hospitals, many of which are located in sparsely populated and poor counties, are spending millions treating the broken bones, heat exhaustion and wounds of aliens they cannot refuse to treat and who cannot pay. The result, says James J. Dickson, head of the Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee, Ariz., is "a tragic and contentious situation."

[Jethro Tull]

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.

[Buffalo Bob]

I have a solution to this problem: Bill all Amerikan corporations that have plants in Mexico.

[goldstategop]

I go one even better: Send the bill to President Vicente Fox. The American gravy train ride's over.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

COSTING U.S. HOSPITALS??????? Gee, what a shock, as Gomer Pyle would say, "surprise, surprise, surprise!"............Seal the borders!.......NOW!

[sarcasm]

See:

Another 50 Years of Mass Mexican Immigration: Mexican Government Report Projects Continued Flow

[kaboom]

In such cases, the hospital must arrange and pay for skilled nursing, physical rehabilitation or other post-hospital care.

rehab and post hospital care??? I'm sure that the hospitals are getting screwed to some extent, but I just can't imagine them not trying to inflate the damage.

[Calico Cat]

So which kind of pressure will force one or both of the major political parties to act: the taxpayers who fund social services and an overburdened health care system on one hand (to cut immigration) or the fast-food and hotel chains on the other (to increase it, or at least to turn a blind eye to it?) Which will it be? I think the former. I think a backlash is coming. If the Republicans think that offering amnesty is going to lead a lot of Hispanic voters to vote conservative, they're kidding themselves. It's the Dems who keep expanding the social-service web that so many illegals are dependent on. It's enough to make me hope that the Repubs lose big in 2004 so that they see the light, come back to their senses and win back their base by 2008.

[Calico Cat]

Tempting idea, and it might work in non-emergency situations, but I doubt that any physician would be able to turn away someone having a heart attack or a brain aneurysm. That would truly be immoral.

[Jim Noble]

EMTALA will, over time, cause the collapse of the hospital industry in this country-and not just because of illegal aliens.

Imagine that you must provide your most resource-constrained service 24X7 to all comers "regardless of ability to pay", and without promise of future payment.

The Congress has legislated that emergency services be free. They are also cracking down on the "fraud" of charging more for other services to pay for it.

The problem is not illegal aliens. The problem is Congress.

[lowbridge]

Immigration bump

[Brownie74]

Hospital Probed for Immigrant Care.

HOUSTON (AP) -- A criminal investigation was launched Monday after complaints that a county hospital district is forcing the public to fund non-emergency health care for illegal immigrants.

Can't anybody get this right?

[goldstategop]

You're right about EMTALA. Its a weird country when illegal aliens get benefits we mere Americans aren't entitled to. No wonder our entire health care system is imploding.

[goldstategop]

Yeah. Why don't they at least send the Mexican government to cover the costs of illegal aliens entry and medical treatment in the United States? I mean where is it written in the Constitution effing emergency treatment is an entitlement? You'd think if they were serious about controlling spiralling health care costs they'd put a stop to it. I've wondered why my health insurance premiums keep going up and up and up with no end in sight. Now I have my answer.

[Brownie74]

I've wondered why my health insurance premiums keep going up and up and up with no end in sight. Now I have my answer.

Have you checked your taxes lately? You are also paying to feed, clothe, house, and educate these people.

When is the American public going to wake up?

[Jim Noble]

>>Its a weird country when illegal aliens get benefits we mere Americans aren't entitled to<<

Once again, it's not about the illegal aliens.

You are not "entitled" to my product for free. No law can make this possible.

You can steal my labor and my goods, and you can escape punishment under color of law (EMTALA, in this case)-but you can't escape the "law" that nothing is free.

Congress has responded in countless ways to the American people's lust for free health care. Most if not all of these responses are harmful (of course), including EMTALA.

I've never understood exactly why it is so important to the sheeple that what I do is "free", especialy in light of the fact that housing and food are not also "free".

But free medical services is what the sheeple demand, and, by God, the Congress is going to see that they get 'em by hook or by crook.

So far, however, there's no evidence that Congress has any intention of paying for it.

[goldstategop]

Of course not. They have to preserve the illusion what's offered is "free."

[Brownie74]

It's enough to make me hope that the Repubs lose big in 2004 so that they see the light, come back to their senses and win back their base by 2008.

This theory has been bounced around FR by several people. But, why should they have to win back their base in the first place?

Look at what just happened to 245(i). It was defeated in the house by one vote. One stinking lousy vote. The pubbies had a chance to make a statement there but they didn't. Look at all of the pubbies that voted for 245(i). And if you really want to get ticked off, look at all the pubbies that didn't even vote at all. Where was Dennis Hastert on this insanity? He was nowhere to be found.

As far as I am concerned, the pubbies will get what they deserve.

[Dane]

Look at all of the pubbies that voted for 245(i)

Yep like Delay, Armey, and the pride of the Libertarians Ron Paul.

Gee maybe they don't buy into your hyperbole and distortion.

[Brownie74]

Yep like Delay, Armey, and the pride of the Libertarians Ron Paul.

For once I can agree with you. How can Ron Paul claim to be a Constitutionalist with his Libertarian leanings?