Free health care for illegals

Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 19 aug 09

[rellimpank]

Taxpayers foot the bill at University Medical Center

Anyone who thinks illegal immigration is an insignificant wedge issue in this country's already-divisive debate over health care reform need only look at Page 18A of Sunday's Review-Journal. In a picture worth significantly more than a thousand words, three uninsured illegals lie in beds at University Medical Center, receiving emergency dialysis at a cost of between $11,000 and $18,000 apiece.

Eviscerating any claim that illegals impose a miniscule burden on our health care system, the Review-Journal's Paul Harasim reports that 80 illegal immigrants with failing kidneys are receiving about $2 million worth of dialysis treatments each month at UMC. Brian Brannman, UMC's chief financial officer, projects that these 80 people alone will be responsible for about 35 percent of the public hospital's estimated $70 million deficit in the new fiscal year.

Bills for uncompensated care are forwarded to the recession-ravaged taxpayers of Clark County.

"The federal government kicked the can down the road on the immigration issue and gave the bill to us," Mr. Brannman said. "This is a federal policy failure that is driving huge health care costs to our citizens

[toddausauras]

True.

[toddausauras]

That’s the thing. The arrogance is incredible. King Barry.

[grania]

a hand up is priceless and a hand-out is devastating.

That's why I really thought Obama would be better in office than the other really bad "first tier" choices. The people he represented are the ones most negatively impacted by the invasion of the US, the lack of meaningful jobs, and handouts which are spread too thin.

Heck, I'd even be willing to say some kind of health reform is necessary....once we get the invaders and unnecessary immigrant workers out of the country, get the manufacturing jobs back, and take care of weaknesses in food safety.