Posted on 02/12/2014 11:22:23 AM PST by moonshinner_09
LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3) -- As a county run hospital, University Medical Center cannot refuse treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
In December alone, 900 dialysis treatments were done on undocumented residents. They are uninsured, and the extensive treatment for their kidneys is not being paid for.
UMC is treating more than 20 undocumented residents with dialysis every day in the emergency room, and they come twice a week. The process takes about four hours.
"What you're doing is filtering all the blood in your body through an artificial kidney which is the dialysis, and so that huge machine is doing what your kidneys usually do," said UMC Chief of Staff, Dr. Dale Carrison.
Carrison says these patients' kidneys are failing mainly for three reasons: congenital, uncontrolled blood pressure or uncontrolled diabetes. He estimates the average age is in the 40s.
"As I sit here as an old guy, none of these dialysis patients are going to live to be my age, they're going to die. they're going to die early," Carrison said.
By law, they must be seen, with or without financial reimbursement to UMC.
"So we have this population fo undocumented that are coming here and if we don't care for them they die. From a human standpoint we do it, but it costs a huge amount of money," Carrison said.
Carrison estimates $10 million to $12 million a year and under state law the hospital can file claims for partial reimbursement but he says hundreds of those claims have not produced a dime, yet.
"Our community says, 'Well UMC is losing money'. Well what do you do? Throw these people away? Let them die? And when does that stop?" Carrison said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mynews3.com ...
There is a simple solution for the hospital - for American citizens. Simply pay to enroll them in Obamacare/Medicaid. Then we all pay for it.
Of course you need to find a working web site.
To be seen in an emergency room you have to do as the illegals do. Complain of chest pains and shortness of breath as these are the magic words to be seen immediately in an ER. When you get to see the doctor say the chest pains and breath are fine now but XXXXX is what is still wrong with me. If you don’t want to go through this deception you will wait in the ER for hours while all the illegals who do this very thing get treatment.
Too bad someone doesn't have the guts to require all illegals getting free medical care to be photographed, fingerprinted and that information being sent to ICE for their deportation.
The problem will be solved when amnesty is passed, most likely AFTER the midterm elections. Then all illegals involved will be automatic American citizens eligible for Obamacare.
We are such a cruel country. Why would any one come here illegally. We’re all racists providing them free food, free medical care, free education a tax free existence. If only we were to give all the illegals amnesty they would sign right up to pay taxes and get Obamacare.
Pathetic
I recall that in 2009 Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta had a Dialysis Unit with a large number of illegals that they had to treat without compensation.
They finally bit the bullet and announced they were closing the dialysis unit. Wails and knashing of teeth. See NY times article
Key quotes:
“Years and years of providing this free care has led Grady to the breaking point,” said Matt Gove, one of the hospital’s senior vice presidents. “If we don’t make the gut-wrenching decisions now, there won’t be a Grady later. Then, everyone loses.”
Some of the Grady dialysis patients have chosen to return to their countries, encouraged by the hospital’s offer of free airfare, cash payments, three months of paid dialysis and assistance in seeking insurance or other long-term remedies. Others are trying their luck in states where Medicaid policies may be less restrictive.
But most remain in Atlanta, taking full advantage of a last-minute offer by the hospital, in response to a lawsuit, to pay for three months of dialysis at commercial clinics. They are hopeful that the reprieve will buy time for the lawsuit to progress or for private dialysis providers to take them as charity cases.
Followup article:
Deal Reached on Dialysis for Immigrants
By KEVIN SACK
Published: September 9, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/health/10grady.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.