Thread: Change is sought on immigrant care policy

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/14811234.htm

Posted on Tue, Jun. 13, 2006



Change is sought on immigrant care policy

By ANTHONY SPANGLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

A policy excluding illegal immigrants from receiving charity care at JPS Health Network clinics is being challenged by a local grassroots political advocacy group.

Allied Communities of Tarrant, a nonprofit group of mostly church and civic leaders, is expected to ask the Tarrant County hospital board today to reverse the policy. The group, which represents 23 area churches, has offered to provide educational programs about JPS services and would like to form a task force to study how well the taxpayer-supported hospital district is reaching and serving all residents of Tarrant County.

“We realize this isn’t going to be an easy thing,” said Johnny Lewis, a representative of Allied Communities and a member of Community of Hope Lutheran Church in Fort Worth. “Scripturally, we are called to do what is right, not what is politically correct. We hope that the board will do what is right.”

In August 2004, the JPS Health Network board of managers voted 6-4, with one member absent, to provide charity care only to legal residents of Tarrant County.

Three of the six board members who voted in favor of the policy have since been replaced; one member who voted against the policy was replaced.

Board members are not expected to vote on the issue at today’s meeting, but the request could set up another close vote at a future hospital board meeting, JPS spokesman Robert Earley said.

“We are working with the folks from Allied Communities of Tarrant, and our board chair gladly put them on the agenda for discussion,” said Earley, senior vice president of public affairs and advocacy. “We are all trying to find ways to provide the best healthcare in Tarrant County, understanding that there are limitations.”

Federal law requires hospitals, private or public, to treat emergency room patients regardless of citizenship. Under JPS policy, patients receiving charity care — through its program called Connection — must be legal residents of Tarrant County and meet certain financial requirements.

Illegal immigrants are barred from receiving federal assistance such as Medicaid and Medicare benefits, but they can access JPS services if they have healthcare coverage or can pay cash for services.

Tarrant County commissioners, who appoint the hospital board members, are divided on the issue of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants.

Commissioner Roy C. Brooks criticized the current policy.

“I’m hoping the board will reverse its policy,” he said. “If these folks end up in the emergency room, that care is more expensive. And these are people who are paying sales taxes and property taxes through their rent.”

Commissioner J.D. Johnson said he has mixed feelings about the issue but that he would not attempt to influence the hospital board’s decision.

“We are either going to treat illegal aliens in the ER or at clinics,” he said. “I think the state and federal government has made it very difficult for local government to make decisions about delivering service.”

Commissioner Marti VanRavenswaay prefers that the hospital district make care for legal residents a priority.

“I cannot support providing medical care to individuals who have arrived by illegal means,” she said. “This decision conflicts with my personal desire to treat all people humanely and with respect.”

Commissioner Glen Whitley said that Allied Communities’ volunteerism could help identify illegal and legal residents who are not receiving healthcare.

“It is an excellent role for churches and community groups to play,” he said. “We tapped into that same volunteerism when we treated the evacuees from [Hurricanes] Katrina and Rita.”


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Anthony Spangler, (817) 390-7420
aspangler@star-telegram.com

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/14824039.htm

Posted on Thu, Jun. 15, 2006

JPS to revisit illegal-immigrant exclusion

By ANTHONY SPANGLER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - The JPS Health Network board will reconsider its policy that excludes illegal immigrants from receiving healthcare at its Tarrant County clinics, the board chairwoman said Wednesday.

But a vote on the policy will not come for at least a month while JPS staff members evaluate the change, she said.

About 120 members of Allied Communities of Tarrant, a nonprofit advocacy group, crowded the board's monthly meeting at John Peter Smith Hospital to demand that healthcare be provided to all residents of Tarrant County, regardless of citizenship.

The group also wants to provide educational meetings on access to JPS services and would help form a task force to study how well the network is serving the public, the organization's members told the JPS board.

"All those who pay taxes have a right to access these public services," group member David Burlingame said.

JPS board Chairwoman Erma Johnson Hadley said the board will consider the requests but will not vote until at least July.

"Two of their ideas are easy to consider," she said during a break. "But their request to change our minds on the illegal-immigrant issue is going to be a tough one."

In August 2004, Hadley was among the majority in a 6-4 vote to bar illegal immigrants from receiving care at JPS clinics. Federal law requires hospitals to provide care to anyone in an emergency room.

Since then, four board members have been replaced, including three who voted for the policy.

Another vote would be close and likely contentious, Hadley said.

The nonprofit's members introduced themselves at the board meeting by naming their churches and the churches' memberships.

"I believe that many will call you and tell you what they think about immigrants receiving services," member Johnny Lewis said. "We are fighting for all the documented, the undocumented and all citizens of Tarrant County."


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Anthony Spangler, 817-390-7420 aspangler@star-telegram.com