Posted on 02/09/2006 6:46:36 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
St. Mark's Hospital, a brand new facility which opened in June of 2005 in La Grange, TX with state-of-the-art facilities, is already running a $2 million deficit due to "indigent care" (read illegal immigrant care). A member of the La Grange Lions Club has told South Texas News correspondent Mene Upharsin that hospital administration officials visited the local La Grange Lions Club and reported that the healthcare facility, which features the latest technological advances in x-ray, sonogram and MRI equipment, has the huge funding disparity due to primarily illegal immigrant care and Medicare changes by the government leading to a huge backlog in unpaid bills.
Patients who have come to the hospital report that a new policy requires that copays be paid before elective services are provided even if the patients are insured. If a copay is not submitted, services are denied even to insured patients. However, indigents who go to the Emergency Room (ER) for service can not be turned away even if the illness is a minor one, like a bad cold or flu. Childbirth and auto wreck incidents also drain the hospitals of revenue when illegals are involved and don't pay. The Federal emlata law requires hospitals to treat ALL emergency room patients whether they can pay or not.
So, while insured, paying customers are turned away for no "copay", illegal immigrants are obtaining essential services at everyone else's expense. Many Americans, even naturalized citizens, are calling for legislation requiring that ALL patients have to pay for services received. Politicians, seeking votes from the masses of poor, are loathe to listen.
Many hospitals in California have closed , and many others have closed their emergency rooms. You and I only go to the emergency rooms in case of emergency. Here, you can expect to wait for hours to be seen because the waiting room is filled with illegals who use the place like a free clinic. They go in, often for menial things. and real emergencies must wait in line.
Meanwhile, rather than paying their medical bills, the illegals send their money home to Mexico & points south.
ping
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. This has got to be repeated 100 times over the course of this illegal invasion.
The tsunami that has been building for years has finally hit land.
Your link doesn't work and I've tried several variations in attempt to get a connection.
What is the link that works?
Good post and comments. Thanks.
Let me take a look at it. This is the new hospital in La Grange, TX and the story IS factual.
I think the town only has about 6,000 people. Seems like that hospital serves the surrounding area which includes several small towns.
If I ever need acute medical care I will go to my local hospital and say I am an illegal alien to receive free care.
No problem.
Illegals don't pay--
So hospitals just charge us more to make up for it.
That's why an aspirin costs $80 in a hospital.
The $2 million is for bills not paid by the aforementioned groups.
You are probably right. That may include the entire county. I only have a view from having driven thru it a couple of times a year.
That won't work for you or me although I've been tempted. The story should state that the hospital is carrying $2 million in receivables for bills not paid. I'll bet the hospital is not running an actual deficit.
Partly because of the illegals, partly because of a federal law of a few years back REQUIRING a hospital to provide care for anyone.
So there's plenty of blame to go around.
WE ARE SOOOOOO STUPID WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL ALIENS.
GW BUSH - THE SOFT SPINED PRESIDENT.
Cheap labor ain't so cheap, ain't it?
Should have left "the chicken ranch" alone. All down hill since. LOL
No it's not.
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