UCSD cases put focus on who pays for care
By Cheryl Clark and Leslie Berestein
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
October 31, 2007
The fact that 11 of the 18 wildfire victims lying in UCSD Medical Center's burn unit are illegal immigrants with no apparent health coverage highlights the daunting financial challenge hospitals face in providing long-term, intensive care for all those who need it.
“These are the most expensive kinds of cases, but we don't look at these patients and say, oh, because they aren't legal residents, we'll stop providing care or stop changing their bandages,â€