Valley Hospitals to Receive Money for Immigrant Care

KGBT ^ | DECEMBER 6, 2003 | Associated Press

[yonif]

DECEMBER 6, 2003 - Border hospitals lose millions of dollars annually caring for sick or injured illegal immigrants but a $1 billion federal aide package promises relief.

"The federal government finally realized that there is a huge burden placed on the border hospitals to pay for the cost of the illegal aliens," said Dr. Lorenzo Pelly, a trauma surgeon at Valley Regional Medical Center. "It's a national issue because it is the federal government that has to stop the flow of the illegal aliens and they cannot do it."

A study by the U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition, an American lobbying group, last year found that U.S. border hospitals provide at least $200 million a year in uncompensated emergency care to illegal immigrants, $74 million of that in Texas.

When approving the Medicare bill last month, Congress allocated $1 billion to help border hospitals cover those costs. President Bush is expected to sign the bill Monday.

Texas and California would get the most money, followed by Arizona. The money will be allocated over four years, starting in 2005.

By federal law, hospitals and doctors must provide emergency care to a patient, regardless of insurance coverage or citizenship.

Most hospitals recoup their losses from caring for the poor and uninsured through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. However, health care providers along the border find most of their patients are illegals who don't qualify for public assistance.

"It's a federal mandate, but an unfunded mandate," said Sen. John Cornyn, R- Texas, said of the rule requiring emergency care for all people.

Cornyn and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., supported the allocation of federal funds to help border hospitals.

Kyl, who asked for the study on how the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act effected hospitals along the border, said hospitals in his state were cutting services or closing altogether because they didn't have enough money or insurance reimbursements to cover the costs of the free care they provided.

"It is a huge step forward and is an important symbol of Congress' growing awareness of the problems we face along our porous borders," Kyl said.

Each state would be eligible for reimbursement, but the funding formula is skewed to help border hospitals that frequently treat illegal immigrants.

McAllen Medical Center CEO Louis Garcia said his hospital last year provided $60 million in uncompensated care, and illegal immigrants accounted for about 25 percent of those costs. The service most often provided to non-citizens _ baby delivery.

Mexican women deliver their babies in the United States so their children will be U.S. citizens, he said. Each birth can cost hospitals $5,000.

Some lawmakers opposed the federal reimbursement, saying it would only encourage more illegal immigrants to cross the border for medical care.

"If you build an illegal alien entitlement program, they will come," said Sen. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

But Jack Martin, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Federation for American Immigration Reform, said immigrants' medical costs point to a bigger problem.

Border states should not "carry a disproportionate burden of expenditures for illegal immigrants," he said. "But we also think it's irresponsible to provide reimbursement without at the same time trying to take steps to identify and remove from the country those illegal aliens who have been using the medical services."

[HiJinx]

Yet another border community weighs in on the billion dollars for medical care for illegals issue, this one in Texas.

You have to read to the end of the article to see what really needs to be done...deport the illegals!

[Viking2002]

They'll pay a billion in OUR money to provide maternity services to these interlopers, but won't put one thin dime into the Border Patrol to keep them out.

Politicians are all filthy sonsofbitches.

[Zipporah]

"It's a national issue because it is the federal government that has to stop the flow of the illegal aliens and they cannot do it."

Make that will not do it...

[Missouri]

"If you build an illegal alien entitlement program, they will come," said Sen. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

This says it all.

Sen. Tom Tancredo ?

I like the sound of that!!

[Missouri]

Illegal immigration ping.

[xJones]

They'll pay a billion in OUR money to provide maternity services to these interlopers, but won't put one thin dime into the Border Patrol to keep them out.

You got that right, Viking, and it has made no difference if a Dem or Pubbie is president. After 9/ll you might have thought that Homeland Security would have included tightening the borders, but nope; unless illegals fly in on aiplanes we don't notice. Se habla Espanol?

[sarcasm]

Sen. President Tom Tancredo ?

I like the sound of that!!

[concentric circles]

An analysis of emergency treatment and followup in Los Angeles County revealed that it cost the county $340 million to treat illegals last year. It was a striking figure because that sum would have prevented numerous closures and cutbacks in the system.

In California the secretary of state just approved for circulation an initiative petition that was put together by Ron Price and Save Our State. He brought us Proposition 187, passed by the voters but gutted by a federal judge. Price tried again a few years ago with an amended version but failed to get the required signatures.

The new initiative does not address medical care or education but prohibits other services to illegal immigrants. It requires agencies to report to the INS any individuals unable to prove legal residence, denies drivers licenses, and prohibits recognition by state agencies of IDs issued by consulates (matricula consular).

[DLfromthedesert]

Yeah, and with Butch cozying up to Vicente, we, in AZ, can only expect MORE!!

[azhenfud]

LEGALIZATION THROUGH DEPORTATION, NOT LEGISLATION!!!

[sarasmom]

When a citizen of the USA is "between jobs/affordable insurance coverage", doctors and hospitals will require cash down prior to any treatment, unless one presents as unconscious or so severly injured to the ER that it is useless to question the patient on ability to pay.
Perhaps we should clarify what constitutes an "emergency" as opposed to "urgent" medical care.
Is kidney dialisis emergency care?-Illegals get it for free, routinely in border states.
Does severe hemmoraging during a miscarriage qualify as an emergency? I had to scrounge up $200.00 prior to being seen by medical professionals.
What is a chronic condition, and what is an actual emergency?
Does the definition change if one is a citizen as opposed to an alien, legal or otherwise?
I submit that our legal system has polluted the definitions mandated by the federal government.
I currently pay close to $200.00 a month for my employer "provided" health insurance benefits.I am fully aware that my portion is approximatly 1/3rd, and my employer contributes the the equivelent 2/3 balance as an employee benefit, in lieu of actual in my pocket salary.
Do they actually pay $400.00 a month out for me, for health insurance, no.They are ultimately self insured, and all medical insurance claims are ultimately paid for directly out of my companies profits.(It is a large publically traded company)But if I attempt to get the same insurance coverage, paying full market rates, I would pay $600.00 a month.I cant pay that, and also pay for basic housing, food,electric,and mandatory car "indurance"-which does not insure my car, it just insures that if I am at fault in an auto accident,someones elses auto insurance agency lawyers have an automatic minimum of $100,000.00 to award themselves with.
My state mandated PIP auto insurance is also something else illegal aliens do not have to pay for.That is $100.00 a month, for a clean driving record.
No wonder some peoples maids, childcare, and lawn care and construction workers are so cheap!
They save $700.00 a month in up front insurance costs, while avoiding to employ an actual honest citizen, and we have not even talked about employer mandated SSAN, and required Workmans Compensation Insurance contributions

It is extremely risky for a citizen of the USA to live without medical/auto insurance.
Declaring bankruptcy does not wipe out medical bills.
Are we all happy now?

[Missouri]

Sen. President Tom Tancredo ?

LOL ! My choice, too.

And Dan Stein for Vice-President.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

Why don't we just extend Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to include all the citizens of Mexico? Cut out the middleman, get right to the chase don't you know.

(That would be a good proposal from a Swiftian satire/smear-the-other-side-with-a-demand-they-aren't-making point of view.)

[texastoo]

This one in Texas.

This one in Texas, McAllen Medical Center if owned by UHS, Universal Health Systems. The CEO of Universal Health Systems SALARY is $20.82 MILLION a YEAR. UHS reported an 11% increase $2.69 BILLION 9/30/03.

The hospital employees will get a 1% bonus this year because of profit. My Friend who is an RN expects a $700 bonus.

Within the last 5 years, UHS has bought Edinburg Hospital, McAllen Heart Hospital, Behavioral Hospital and also owns McAllen Medical Center. UHS is also building a new hospital in Eagle Pass. Type UHS in the stock symbols and then go to profiles and check out what I am saying.

The travesty of Medicare is Thomas A Scully. He was Bush's appointed man to head Medicare. He probably authored the Medicare bill. He resigned last week and now 5 Washington DC law firms are fighting over him as he has the inside scoop on the loopholes for Medicare. He even knew he was going to join a law firm before the Medicare Bill was commpleted.

[janetgreen]

President Tom Tancredo

He's got my vote whether he runs or not.

[PRND21]

Bump

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yet another border community weighs in on the billion dollars for medical care for illegals issue, this one in Texas.

Texas?

Anyone seen Tom Ridge or President Bush?

[JustPiper]

Border hospitals lose millions of dollars annually caring for sick or injured illegal immigrants but a $1 billion federal aide package promises relief

What about healthcare relief for American citizens?!

[FITZ]

Politicians are all filthy sonsofbitches.

Vicente Fox demanded free health care and free education in the USA for all his Mexican citizens in his "Whole Enchilada" and our politicians just nodded.