Thread: NE:Prenatal care debate could move up

Published Friday April 9, 2010
Prenatal care debate could move up
By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU



LINCOLN — The debate over providing prenatal care for illegal immigrants might be moving from the Nebraska Legislature to the University of Nebraska.

NU Regent Randy Ferlic of Omaha said Thursday that the university, through the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center, should take a lead role in picking up the prenatal care dropped by the state March 1.

The university, Ferlic said, lobbied hard to allow instate tuition rates for the daughters and sons of illegal immigrants in Nebraska, and taking care of the unborn children — who become U.S. citizens automatically upon birth — is "not incongruous."

He said it would not only demonstrate "the soul of our philosophy," but also would help reduce the amount of extra charity care that UNMC will provide because of the increased number of premature births and longer intensive care stays expected to result because of the lack of the preventive care.

"It's a teaching moment," said Ferlic, a retired heart surgeon. "We pride ourselves on being a 500-mile wide campus."

His call comes a day after his son-in-law, State Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, took to the floor of the Legislature to scold the university system for putting "buildings" ahead of caring for unborn children.

About 840 pregnant women who are in the country illegally lost prenatal coverage because of a federal directive.

Despite a hard push by Ashford and other senators, the Legislature declined to restore the coverage fully in the face of opposition from Gov. Dave Heineman, who opposes taxpayer-funded services for illegal immigrants.

Ashford and Ferlic denied that their relationship had anything to do with their agreement on the prenatal issue.

Ashford said UNMC’s public health mission demands that it take a leadership role in filling the gap in prenatal services until the Legislature can again consider the issue in 2011.

He said the university lobbied him daily to urge the Legislature to allow research using embryonic stem cells but has "checked out" on the issue of providing free or reduced-cost prenatal care for illegal immigrants.

"If the embryonic stem cell issue is more important than these babies, then the university needs to think about its mission," Ashford said.

Ashford said NU officials have told him offering prenatal care is not an "educational" matter.

UNMC Vice Chancellor Bob Bartee deferred comment to NU President J.B. Milliken, who was in Washington, D.C., Thursday night and unavailable for comment, an NU spokeswoman said.

Ferlic said spending money on prenatal care will unquestionably save taxpayers and the university money later, in terms of increased costs of emergency deliveries and neonatal intensive care treatment.

Ferlic said he might raise the issue at the next NU Board of Regents meeting, scheduled April 16.

"Immigration is a big issue," Ferlic said. "But we can’t shoot them, we can’t deport them, and the meatpacking and construction industries benefit from them greatly."


http://www.omaha.com/article/20100409/NEWS01/100409564

How about deporting them back to their country of origin so they can have their anchor babies there.

Originally Posted by partwerks

How about deporting them back to their country of origin so they can have their anchor babies there.

Ah but then they wouldn't hit the jackpot.

About 840 pregnant women who are in the country illegally lost prenatal coverage because of a federal directive.

Sounds like an excellent start to me! What's the problem?

The University should not be allowed to use any tax dollars for this effort. If it wants to help people, let them focus on uninsured [legal] immigrants and American citizens that don't have healthcare.

If you live in Nebraska, please contact the university's Board of Regents and ask them to oppose this.

Originally Posted by magyart

The University should not be allowed to use any tax dollars for this effort. If it wants to help people, let them focus on uninsured [legal] immigrants and American citizens that don't have healthcare.

If you live in Nebraska, please contact the university's Board of Regents and ask them to oppose this.

The Board of Regents consists of eight voting members elected by district (see map) for six-year terms, and four non-voting student Regents, one from each campus, who serve during their tenure as student body president. The board supervises the general operations of the university, and the control and direction of all expenditures. The board also includes a corporation secretary who manages all records including agendas, minutes, notices, policies and bylaws. Those documents can also be found on this web site.

The board meets regularly, primarily in Lincoln but also in Omaha and greater Nebraska. Persons wishing to provide information to the board or to appear before it should contact:


Corporation Secretary
University of Nebraska
Varner Hall
3835 Holdrege
Lincoln, NE 68583

corpsec@nebraska.edu

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(402) 472-3906

http://www.nebraska.edu/board

These children will not be U.S. citizens if the illegal alien mother is deported before giving birth. These illegals should be identified, reported, and deported as soon as they show up demanding taxpayer funded care. Prenatal care is not an emergency; I don't understand why the health departments are required to provide it to non citizens. America would not be spending billions on anchor babies if the illegal alien mother was deported before giving birth!

We should deport these pregnant illegals before they have a chance to drop their anchor baby. Why is no one suggesting this?