U.S. to help fund immigrant care [Hospitals who treat illegal immigrants will get $1B]

Miami Herald ^ | Tue, Jan. 27, 2004 | DAVID OVALLE

[yonif]

A little-publicized provision in the Medicare bill passed late last year will make about $1 billion available to hospitals, such as Jackson Memorial Hospital, that provide emergency care to undocumented immigrants.

The money would chip away at the growing amount of so-called ''charity care'' that many hospitals say poses a serious financial burden. In 2001, the last year for which figures were available, Jackson Memorial spent $37 million to treat about 6,600 uninsured and undocumented patients.

Nationally, some estimates by healthcare analysts place the total amount hospitals pay to treat undocumented people who cannot pay their medical bills at about $2 billion. Florida ranks behind California, Texas and Arizona in the amount its hospitals spend on care for undocumented patients.

Much of the new federal money, which will be allocated over four years, will be given directly to hospitals in states that have the highest numbers of undocumented migrants. The Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Medicare and Medicaid, must still hammer out a formula to decide how much to give to individual hospitals that qualify for the money.

Officials said they could not provide an estimate of how much money Florida hospitals would receive.

Federal officials said they hope to have an application ready by September for funds that will become available starting next year.

A TENSE ISSUE

The issue of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants has become an intensifying source of controversy as the cost of healthcare has continued to soar. The General Accounting Office is expected later this year to release a report that will examine the issue of hospitals paying to treat undocumented immigrants.

''We're very interested in any program that is going to help us offset losses. We will certainly be looking at aggressively pursuing the money,'' said Conchita Ruíz-Topinka, a spokeswoman for Jackson. ``We're not going to step away from the commitment to the community.''

A study released last year by the Florida Hospital Association found that in 2002, hospitals in the state spent at least $40.2 million to treat 705 uninsured foreign nationals.

GUARANTEE OF CARE

By law, hospitals cannot turn away patients who show up in their emergency rooms or ask them about their immigration status.

At Jackson, one of the busiest public hospitals in the country, hospital administrators ask patients only to prove that they live in Miami-Dade County.

Jackson's charity care is funded mostly by taxpayer dollars and fees collected from publicly or privately insured patients.

Other Florida hospitals have racked up considerable bills -- and headlines -- for their medical treatment of undocumented migrants.

Earlier this year, Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart was criticized for returning an uninsured, undocumented patient to his native Guatemala after he racked up $2 million in care over more than three years.

Hospital spokeswoman Lisa McCluskey said that the hospital would analyze the Medicare bill's provision for reimbursement. ''It's too early to say if we're going to apply,'' she said.

CARRYING THE BURDEN

U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican from Palm Beach County who pushed for the GAO study, said that compensating Florida is the right thing to do because the government has not done enough to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the state.

''It's a good first step. The burden that falls on these local hospitals has been extraordinary,'' Foley said.

[goldstategop]

Repealing the law that forces hospitals to provide uncompensated NON EMERGENCY care to illegal aliens would be a first step. Then pass a law billing their home country for the full cost of all emergency hospital services rendered. Its morally obscene not to mention financially unconscionable to leave American taxpayers stuck with the tab for people who have no right to be here in the first place.

[JerseyHighlander]

Just between 2 counties, Westchester Medical and Nassau Medical, in NY, could take at least 15% of the $1 billion. NY state has probably accumulated more than $1 billion in "Charity Care" costs in the last 3 years. There are four other immigrant gateway states, each who could easily consume $1 Billion in tax dollars, to simply continue to be able to provide what was standard care to working class citizens 10 years ago. This will be a $5 billion a year program within 6 years. After that, private insurance no longer "works" in the new American medical system...

[gubamyster]

ping

[JustPiper]

Part of the expanded Patriot Act would include reinstating the welfare program. That was one good thing in the clinton era, ridding us of that!

[realpatriot71]

GOOD! Until the government starts policing they're own border, and until the governemnt stops making hospitals treat illegals legaly, they government should give money to the Hospitals. Of course we could avoid the entire issue, by (1) not giving social services to those who do not pay taxes for them (2) put up a a very large wall, and (3) agressively pursue any illegal aliens currently in country.

[txdoda]

"U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican from Palm Beach County who pushed for the GAO study, said that compensating Florida is the right thing to do because the government has not done enough to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the state.">>>>>>>

Gee.......WHERE have I heard those same words before ??? Oh, & something about MORE SCAAP funding (fed. $$ for jailing illegals)??? Now WHO was that, fighting for MORE fed. $$$, to relieve the state/local tax payers ???

Can you believe it was GOVERNOR George W. Bush, of Texas ?? Fighting with DC for more fed. $$$, because DC was not doing their job at the borders in stopping illegals from entering the USA.


Because the stupid lawmakers we elect>>>>>>>>

Now we have PRES. GWB, who has CUT the SCAAP funding to states the last two years, & offers a 'partial' payment on local hospital costs.......& let's not forget the 'proposal', that will keep a million a yr. coming in for their 'rewards'.

[JustPiper]

No need to run my friend, I found out about this when Bush made his announcement on his proposal, then everyone ran! LOL!

[B4Ranch]

All you people are RACIST AMERICANS WHO HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS!!!

/sarcasm

[MissAmericanPie]

That "Compassionate Conservatism" sure smacks of an overthrow of the legitimate American citizen.

[dennisw]

That ought to keep a lot of docs, nurses, admins and support in clover for a while. Unfortunately this delays the USA from honestly confronting illegal immigration and it's price. The employers of illegals undercut the competition and make larger profits while the costs are shoved over onto society.

Privatizing profits. Socializing the overhead.

[lainde]

bttt

[Dante3]

It is an outrage that we as taxpayers have to provide for medical care of criminals who should not even be in this country. At the same time many of our own citizens have difficulty in getting and/or paying for propoer medical care.

[Bikers4Bush]

Agreed.

[FITZ]

Our goverment has long ago ceased being by the people, for the people.

How many rural hospitals have shut their doors in the last 20 or so years? Not a dime from the government --- now rural Americans often have to drive 50 to 200 miles to get to a hospital --- no problem --- because our government is busy providing totally free care for foreign citizens. What a shame --- you can't tell me this is what the Founding Fathers intended.

[FITZ]

What is bad too --- many of the Mexicans come to the USA only for their free health care, they've got government hospitals over there that they can use but they don't choose to --- they have to pay something, if they come over the border, it's a complete freebie.

[Dante3]

Exactly. And I resent having to pay for it.

[MamaTexan]

At the same time many of our own citizens have difficulty in getting and/or paying for proper medical care.

Give that FReeper a cee-gar!

I'm practically a toothless wonder, but can I afford to get $6000 of dental care?

Nope.

While we 'too poor to be rich, but to rich to be poors' are financially raped by our combined governments to the tune of 53% of our annual earnings, the criminal alien invaders stream in and out of free dental clinics with their gaggle of kids in tow.

And every single one of them possesses a dazzling white smile!

ARRGGH!

[MegaSilver]

That "Compassionate Conservatism" sure smacks of an overthrow of the legitimate American citizen.

It is neither compassionate nor conservative.