Posted on 07/05/2011 12:37:26 PM PDT by jazusamo
While the Obama Administration halts deportations to work on its secret amnesty plan, hospitals across the U.S. are getting stuck with the exorbitant tab of medically treating illegal immigrants and some are finally demanding compensation from the federal government.
The group that represents most of the nations hospitals and medical providers recently urged President Obama to work with Congress to reimburse them for the monstrous cost of treating illegal immigrants. Federal law requires facilities to treat and stabilize individuals regardless of their immigration status, but federal support for the services remains virtually nonexistent, according to a letter submitted by the American Hospital Association to the president.
This week officials in California, the state with the largest concentration of illegal immigrants, joined the call for federal compensation after revealing that hospitals there spend about $1.25 billion annually to care for illegal aliens. The figure skyrocketed from $1.05 billion in 2007, according to California Hospital Association figures quoted in a local news report.
The problem will only get worst, according to officials, who say the $1.25 billion for 2010 could actually be higher. They complain that federal law forces them to treat patients in emergency rooms regardless of immigration status yet they get stuck with the financial burden. This has forced many hospitals to curtail services or close beds and could ultimately compromise healthcare.
Nationwide, U.S. taxpayers spend tens of billions of dollars annually to provide free medical care for illegal immigrants with states that border Mexico taking the biggest hit. Adding to the problem is the fact that Mexico, the country that provides the largest amount of illegal immigrants in the U.S., has long promoted Americas generous public health centers. It even operates a Spanish-language program (Ventanillas de Salud, Health Windows) in about a dozen U.S. cities that refers its nationalsliving in the country illegallyto publicly funded health centers where they can get free medical care without being turned over to immigration authorities.
Hey Caleefornia—suck it! You put OweBama in office, get used to your shackles.
Paying for the DNC votes buys that other American refuse to pay for.
This article is severely lacking. It doesn't even tell us how many illegal aliens the hosptials were able to purchase for their $1.25 Billion, never mind what they DID with them all...
Exactly!
ROTFLMAO!
Everyone from Maine to Washington state from the North and to the South pay for California hospitals and if Obama has his way so we will be paying much more via a state bailout!
That’s just one state’s expenses in one area of the gimme teat. That’s not what the hospitals charge US citizens to make up the difference. That’s not including housing, education, courts, police, etc. that’s needed for the 30 million or so illegals we’re babysitting in the other 49 states and US territories.
Just say NO, they can go home to get their medical attention.
I propose a idea a while back to handle this. Hospitals should be reimbursed for this ‘free’ mandated care under the federally mandated requirement but only if they either : Get the patient to identify themselves, or if not possible to get a valid ID they notify the Federal government that they have a ghost resident patient on their hands for them to investigate. Every uninsured (non-paying) patient should have at least one of the following :
1) VALID drivers license complying with REAL ID,
2) passport,
3) Green immigration card
4) valid SS number
Of course the weak link in my idea is having a POTUS that gives a crap, good luck on that : McCain, GWB, Obama forget it.
How much is that per illegal Democrat voter?
LLS
Illegals should only be treated for serious or life threatening issues and the final part of that treatment should be deportation.
Hey, we have Border Patrol agents telling apprehended injured aliens that they are not under arrest but that they need to get out of the agent’s car(parked off of hospital property)and walk into the Emergency Department. If they arrest and deliver the alien to the local ED,some of the money for medical care is paid for by the Border Patrol. No arrests, no transportation to the hospital, no worries.
Amen to that!
Note it doesn't say the hospitals loose $1.25 billion because they don't. Much of that is made up through cost shifting, etc.
But I agree that if the Feds make the hospitals see patients who cannot pay, no matter the reason, the Feds should chip in for the cost.
Ideally, the Fed law should be changed to tighten up the loophole.
Correct, health care is only part of it.
Our politicians keep saying we can’t afford to deport the huge number of illegals that are here. I say we can’t afford not to deport them, they’re costing us more in welfare services than it would cost to deport them.
You go to the hospital, check your bill for “indigent treatment”.
I belileve this goes to pay for people who come to the hospital who cannot afford treatment.
Would hate to think we are paying twice.
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