Isn't THIS just one MORE reason to deport illegals???They are using money meant for LEGAL citizens!!!?

Question

Hospitals: Aid to offset costs of immigrants is necessary
September 24, 2006
Jennifer C. Smith
Monitor Staff Writer


MISSION — Between 20 and 25 undocumented immigrants arrive each week for kidney dialysis at Mission Regional Medical Center’s emergency room.

“They have no way of paying for it, and in six months they rack up $750,000,” said Mitch Ladyman, the hospital’s trauma coordinator. “That’s just a number we’ll never get reimbursed.”

And while the federal government has a $1 billion federal program intended to help with unpaid hospital emergency care, a recent Associated Press report shows a large chunk of that money has gone uncollected by cash-strapped hospitals.

Federal officials can’t explain why overburdened communities have not grabbed the cash.

Nationally, only 15 percent of the money has been handed out three-quarters of the way through the program’s first year, according to the AP.

Texas as a whole is slated to receive almost $25 million for the 2006 fiscal year.

Rio Grande Valley hospital officials say they take whatever disbursement they can or risk cutting hospital services essential to the community.

“We’ve definitely applied for and have definitely gotten some of it,” said Dan McLean, CEO at South Texas Health Systems in McAllen, which includes McAllen Medical Center and Edinburg Regional Medical Center.

The health group has collected about $2.41 million since it filed its first claim for its five facilities in February 2006.

That may seem large, but in the last eight months alone, the hospitals have provided more than $118 million in uncompensated care, said hospital group spokeswoman Dalinda Guillen.

The $1 billion financial dispensation is through September 2008 and authorized under the 2003 Medicare law. Hospitals are paid a percentage of the ER costs on quarterly cycles, so they receive money six to nine months after the actual procedures.

Some hospitals are reluctant to apply for funds because they don’t want to do the paperwork, say hospital and public health officials. The government also trims submitted hospital bills and returns money based on costs, not on services provided.

Hospitals feel uncomfortable asking patients about their citizenship status.

“A lot of undocumented patients already don’t access care,” said Sonal Ambegaokar, a health policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, a non-partisan policy center that works with low-income immigrants based in Los Angeles.

“The few that go in, if they hear they are being asked about their immigration status, they’ll assume they’ll not be able to get care … that will affect the public health.”

Local hospitals dismiss the objections, noting the required paperwork is only two pages long and their employees are trained to sensitively ask questions.

“I understand the reluctance of a hospital that doesn’t see that many undocumented patients,” said Mission hospital Chief Financial Officer Randy Slack. “But when you’re treating a number of undocumented patients, it’s worth your while to go through all the hoops and troubles to get partial reimbursements.”

Mission’s hospital has also received a “six-figure amount,” he said.

“It covers cost of supplies and labor, operations to treat those patients who are undocumented,” Slack said. “If money went away, we might have to find other areas to cut to keep bottom line balanced.”

For South Texas Health Systems, the trauma room or pediatric ICU unit could become financial casualties if it continues to lose money through uncollected ER care, McLean said.

"tristanrobbins" The ONLY thing that MATTERS here,is that as ILLEGALS,they should have NO DAMN RIGHT to even be treated in THIS country,using OUR tax dollars!!!!

And to "munyacarr", actually YES, my family are part native American,and i STILL do NOT like our tax dollars being WASTED on NONcitizens!!!

Answer 1

Unless your parents are Native Americans, you ain't got NOTHIN' to say.

Answer 2

It is a dilemma. I think any human no matter who they are or whether they have the means or not should be treated by hospitals. However, I think, that it is ashame that American people who need surgeries are being told that until they can come up with a good amount of it they can not recieve the care needed.
I believe that if a hospital treats a patient that is illegally in this country that they are obligated to report these people to proper authorities.

Answer 3

the most important part of your posted article:

"And while the federal government has a $1 billion federal program intended to help with unpaid hospital emergency care, a recent Associated Press report shows a large chunk of that money has gone uncollected by cash-strapped hospitals.

Federal officials can’t explain why overburdened communities have not grabbed the cash.

Nationally, only 15 percent of the money has been handed out three-quarters of the way through the program’s first year, according to the AP"

The money IS available to pay for these patients. It can't be blamed on the immigrants that the hospitals don't bother asking for reimbursements.

Answer 4

What they need is a way for hospitals to collect payment from illegals. I don't know how, but it seems that's the only option acceptable to the left.

People who don't have insurance have to pay out of their pockets - why would the answerer below me suggest deportation? That's what bill collecters are for.

Answer 5

I agree. Everyone knows these stories already, yet there will still be someone who will say "THEY ARE PEOPLE" or "BE HUMANE" If they want better lives, they have to work for it and not steal it from Americans. Can one American tell me the last time they went to the hospital and had free dialysis?

Answer 6

I find that the illegal argument is absurd.

When my grandmother, who has no insurance, cannot afford a medical procedure...who the hell are these non-citizens that they take benefits which should be given to us?

I think that we should hire private agencies to deport the illegals. Private industry is always more cost effective than government agencies.

Thank you for the eye-opening information. You always have good post.

Answer 7

Who needs more reasons?

They had me at "illegal".

Why is that word so hard for some people to understand?

Next time they organize one of those BS rallies, bring on the tear gas and paddy wagons. Load 'em up and move them out.

Answer 8

Um, isn't that, like, the MAIN reason?

and Munya - what did the Native Americans ever pay for that Americans used?

Answer 9

I dont know why illegals cannot be turned away? If a legal citizen shows up at the hospital, they have to show proof of financial responsibilty.

Answer 10

There is no reason to deport illegals. They're normal people who have every right to stay in America. Since when do borders restrict rights to live? A lot of people thinks of these poor people as dirty animals. I'm defending them.

Answer 11

One more reason on a long list....