Thread: Hospital weighs charity care for illegal immigrants

"Where does it end?" Mr. Killy said. "When do we stop paying our tax money for something we're getting nothing for?"

Hospital weighs charity care for illegal immigrants

Nonemergency services for illegal immigrants debated

08:24 PM CDT on Saturday, September 15, 2007

By JEFF MOSIER / The Dallas Morning News
jmosier@dallasnews.com

A poor illegal immigrant who goes to the John Peter Smith Hospital emergency room in Fort Worth gets the same care at the same price as any other indigent resident.


The Rev. Sergio Diaz is working to expand health care services available for illegal immigrants in Tarrant County.

But the same person who goes to a JPS clinic for nonemergency treatment is often faced with a hefty bill. Unlike other large urban public hospital systems in Texas, JPS excludes illegal immigrants from its charity program that provides preventive healthcare.

Trying to balance politics, medicine and money, the Tarrant County Hospital Board of Managers will debate and possibly decide Tuesday whether to spend millions to provide free or low-cost nonemergency medical care to thousands of illegal immigrants.

The Rev. Sergio Diaz of Iglesia San Miguel, an Episcopal church in Fort Worth, said he has been fighting for this issue because of the damage caused by inadequate health care. He said members of his church – many of them illegal immigrants – can't get preventive health care and that some have died from complications from treatable diseases such as diabetes.

"This touches my heart because most of my people are immigrants," said Mr. Diaz, a member of Allied Communities of Tarrant. "I've seen a lot of people suffering."

Health care has become a major part of the national debate about illegal immigration, and the costs even led Dallas County officials to send bills to Mexico and other countries demanding payment for some of its expenses at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

The debate has also been simmering for more than a year in Tarrant County, where Allied Communities of Tarrant, a coalition of churches and social-justice activists, has pushed for the expansion of charity care. At the same time, a local conservative group favoring a crackdown on illegal immigration has been urging the board to retain the existing policy.

Dennis Killy, a member of the Tarrant Alliance for Responsible Government, said expanding cheap health care to illegal immigrants is an insult to citizens and to those who came to the United States legally. It simply rewards those who ignore federal law, he said.

"Where does it end?" Mr. Killy said. "When do we stop paying our tax money for something we're getting nothing for?"

Mr. Killy said he believes a significant majority of board members support his group's position and would not change the JPS policy. Officials with Allied Communities of Tarrant said they think it's going to be a closer vote.

Three board members, Erma C. Johnson Hadley, Dan Serna and Ronnie W. Coulson, all declined to comment on how they might vote.

"It's my obligation to leave my mind open," Mr. Serna said.

Mrs. Johnson Hadley, board chairwoman, said this is a difficult decision that generates strong opinions and mixed emotions among many people. She said she met with Sen. John Cornyn and told him that this is something that needs to be addressed in Washington.

"We feel somewhat put out that we're having to deal with a federal issue," she said.

Differing figures

People supporting a tougher stance on illegal immigration see this as a critical financial issue. They worry that a change in policy will cost taxpayers dearly.

The cost of this possible expansion, however, depends on who's adding the numbers.

The hospital district hired Phase 2 Consulting of Austin to conduct a study, which was released in July.

Estimating the number of illegal immigrants in Tarrant County at 107,000, the study calculated that expanding the charity program would cost the hospital district an additional $41.3 million right now. That number would increase to $114.4 million by 2017, according to the study.

Allied Communities of Tarrant conducted its own study in February that came to a dramatically different conclusion. Quoting 18th-century literary figure Samuel Johnson and a passage from the Bible's book of Leviticus in the introduction, the alternative study estimated the cost to be between $2 million and $4.2 million added to the hospital district's $600 million-plus budget.

Parkland officials estimated their cost for nonemergency care for illegal immigrants was $22.4 million in the past year – about halfway between the two Tarrant County estimates.

Patricia Gaffney, a member of Allied Communities of Tarrant who helped research and write the report, challenged some of the basic assumptions of the Phase 2 study. She said that study projects a 56 percent increase in Tarrant County's illegal immigrant population in the next decade even though federal reports show that illegal immigration is decreasing.

Ms. Gaffney also said the Phase 2 study overestimates the number of illegal immigrants who would use the service. Many are wary of government programs because of their immigration status, she said.

Mr. Killy said he is more likely to believe an independent, third-party report than one created by a group advocating for one side of the issue.

Dave McElwee, another member of Tarrant Alliance for Responsible Government, said that aside from the immediate cost, he also worries about the message that expanded health care would send.

"I think there ought to be programs for the indigent but not for those in the country illegally," he said. "All this does is act as a magnet for other illegals."

No extra funds now

If the board votes Tuesday to expand health care, it's not clear how quickly such a change would be implemented, JPS senior vice president Robert Earley said. He said the board and Tarrant County Commissioners have already approved the 2007-08 budget, and no funds are set aside for additional health care costs for illegal immigrants.

This is the second time this issue has come up for Tarrant County. For part of 2004, the board opened up all its programs to illegal immigrants. JPS officials were uncertain about whether a new state law allowed or mandated them to provide nonemergency charity services to illegal immigrants. Mr. Early said a ruling by the Texas attorney general and statements of intent from the sponsor clarified that the law didn't require the expansion.

At the time, JPS officials said the expanded program cost them up to $4 million for six months. Mr. Earley said the participation was probably limited three years ago because the program wasn't actively promoted by the hospital district and there were questions about how long it would last.

The board voted in August 2004 to make immigration status a factor for the JPS charity nonemergency care.

Officials with Allied Communities of Tarrant and the Texas Hospital Association also said most urban public hospitals in the state don't limit health care service because of immigration status, but neither had conducted a comprehensive study.

Dr. Ron Anderson, chief executive of Parkland Memorial Hospital, which does not exempt illegal immigrants from its charity programs, said the decision by JPS did not affect his system.

But he said that it makes sense to get all low-income residents preventive health care in neighborhood clinics. When he came to Parkland in 1982, the system had no clinics and about 182,000 emergency-room visits annually.

Since then, the system opened neighborhood clinics countywide, and the emergency-room visits fell to 145,000 even though the population has nearly doubled.

"The truth is, if you don't provide this care in the clinic, you'll provide this service in the emergency room," Dr. Anderson said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 34137.html

It's cheeper to treate them in their homelands.

Tell them it they will go home, we will pay 10 cents on the dollar for their treatement. The exchange rate is about 11 to 1.

Officials with Allied Communities of Tarrant and the Texas Hospital Association also said most urban public hospitals in the state don't limit health care service because of immigration status, but neither had conducted a comprehensive study.

But they should.

Dixie

Here's an idea for Sergio Diaz who is sooooo worried about health care for his flock of illegals:

His church can set up a charitable fund to pay for the healthcare related bills of the illegals instead of trying to force a change in the system JPS has and saddling the taxpayers with footing the bill for more freebies.

Let him stick that in his collar and try it on for size.

Mrs. Johnson Hadley, board chairwoman, said this is a difficult decision

On the contrary, it's a easy, simple decision.....you follow the law and don't spend taxpayers money on illegal aliens. It's not difficult at all except for libs who are always seeking ways to feel good about themselves!

He said members of his church – many of them illegal immigrants

Does ICE work on Sunday? Sounds like some of our churches need some fall cleaning. Boy wouldn't that go over great with bleeding heart illegal immigrant advocates.

Originally Posted by MW

He said members of his church – many of them illegal immigrants

Does ICE work on Sunday? Sounds like some of our churches need some fall cleaning. Boy wouldn't that go over great with bleeding heart illegal immigrant advocates.

Actually, ICE discourages actions from being conducted in schools, healthcare facilities, and churches.

I don't believe that it's out of sensitivity to illegals, but respect for the general public, and I don't know about anyone else but I'm not so sure I'd want to have occasion to, say, be at a hospital and here comes ICE crashing through the door. I can't imagine that that kind of excitement would go over well in heart patients or accident victims who are already in shock.

Originally Posted by azwreath

Here's an idea for Sergio Diaz who is sooooo worried about health care for his flock of illegals:

His church can set up a charitable fund to pay for the healthcare related bills of the illegals instead of trying to force a change in the system JPS has and saddling the taxpayers with footing the bill for more freebies.

Let him stick that in his collar and try it on for size.

It would serve everyone if they set up their fund and health care facility in the countries of the people they so want to serve.

Sun, Sep. 16, 2007

Tarrant County to consider giving immigrants indigent care
The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas -- An illegal immigrant who is indigent can get emergency care at Tarrant County's John Peter Smith Hospital for the same price charged to other indigent residents.

But if the same immigrant went to one of the JPS neighborhood clinics for the preventive healthcare that might keep him out of the emergency room, the person would face a pricey bill.

Now the Tarrant County Hospital Board of Managers is considering whether to allow illegal immigrants to receive free or low-cost nonemergency medical care. The board is expected to debate the issue and possibly decide Tuesday.

Tarrant County's JPS excludes illegal immigrants from its program that provides preventive healthcare to the indigent. Most other urban public hospital systems in Texas do not, according to the Texas Hospital Association.

At Parkland Memorial Hospital in neighboring Dallas County, illegal immigrants can receive indigent care.

"The truth is, if you don't provide this care in the clinic, you'll provide this service in the emergency room," said Dr. Ron Anderson, chief executive of Parkland Memorial Hospital.

When he came to Parkland in 1982, the hospital system had no clinics and its emergency room had about 182,000 visits a year.

The hospital system has since opened neighborhood clinics and saw emergency room visits fall to 145,000 despite the population nearly doubling.

Allied Communities of Tarrant, a group of churches and activists, is pushing for county leaders to expand indigent care. The Rev. Sergio Diaz of Iglesia San Miguel, an Episcopal church in Fort Worth, said members of his church who are illegal immigrants haven't gotten preventive healthcare and said some have died from complications from treatable diseases.

"This touches my heart because most of my people are immigrants," said Diaz, a member of Allied Communities of Tarrant. "I've seen a lot of people suffering."

However, another group has been urging the hospital board to retain the existing policy. Dave McElwee, of Tarrant Alliance for Responsible Government, said he worries about the cost to taxpayers and the message expanded healthcare would send.

"I think there ought to be programs for the indigent but not for those in the country illegally," he said. "All this does is act as a magnet for other illegals."

Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com
http://www.star-telegram.com/448/story/237369.html

Mon, Sep. 17, 2007

JPS board to vote on expanding services for poor
By PATRICK McGEE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The long debate about whether to provide nonemergency healthcare to illegal immigrants in Tarrant County is expected to come to a vote Tuesday.

JPS Health Network's board of managers will decide whether to expand who can use Connection, the county hospital's free, preventative healthcare program for poor people.

JPS is currently the only large public hospital in Texas that bans illegal immigrants from its indigent-care program.

At least a few board members say they want to change that. Others oppose allowing illegal immigrants into Connection, but most members on the 11-member board have declined to say how they will vote.

Allied Communities of Tarrant, a group of mostly church leaders, has lobbied JPS for years to include illegal immigrants in the program. During recent meetings, Tarrant County residents opposed to illegal immigration have urged board members to keep illegal immigrants out.

The JPS board of managers will meet at 11:30 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital at 1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth. The meeting is open to the public.

pmcgee@star-telegram.com

http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news ... 37960.html

The mistake is thinking they are indignent. Many have more money on hand than most of us. They send billions back home and avoid taxes, receive food stamps, housing assistance and a wealth of other programs. Please don't insult me with this "poor immigrant" BS. Just because they are accomplished con-artists and can pull off these scams on the truly ignorant doesn't mean taxpayers should fall for this tripe. People are tired of subsidizing liberals "feel good" programs. Maybe they should check the parking lot for all those new F-150s they are driving around. Not many indignent people cruise around in new Expeditions!! They are masterful at playing poor and helpless and of course the libs lick their chops over this and swoon with delight. It's pitiful. They seem to make no effort to screen out the con artists.

Do they ask them to pay anything?? Do they bill them and harrass the hell out of them like they do us Americans or do they just simply write it off?? Of course the latter is correct. Many Americans don't go for medical care because they don't have enough money and don't want to lose their house or ruin what credit they have. A close friend's near perfect credit score was devasted by treatment of a skin cancer. Now she is struggling with collections, harrassment and trying to pay it off a little at a time. This person is disabled and on a fixed income.

"What fools these mortals be!!"