Thread: U.S. to pay for immigrant care

U.S. to pay for immigrant care

Emergency services providers can bill for aiding undocumented


07:57 PM CDT on Monday, May 9, 2005


From Staff and Wire Reports


Health care providers can charge the federal government for emergency care provided to illegal immigrants beginning today.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued final guidance Monday that sets up a system for reimbursement. Lawmakers set aside $1 billion over four years for the program, created by Medicare legislation passed in 2003.

For hospitals in border states, the additional money can mean the difference between running a profitable business or an unprofitable one, said Don May, vice president of policy for the American Hospital Association.

"I don't know if it will completely change their financial picture, but for those hospitals on the border, this is going to make a difference in ensuring they are there to treat the patients, not just the undocumented ones, but all the patients living in those communities," Mr. May said.

Two-thirds of the money will be distributed to health care providers based on a state's percentage of illegal immigrants. The remaining third will go to providers in the six states with the largest number of arrests of undocumented individuals.

The states receiving the highest amounts in the current fiscal year are California, $70.8 million; Texas, $46 million; Arizona, $45 million; and New York, $12.25 million.

An official at Parkland Memorial Hospital, which serves an unknown number of illegal immigrants in its emergency room, said it is difficult to estimate the likely benefit of such federal funding.

"Until they tell us exactly how and when the money will be paid out, it's impossible to say," said John Gates, the hospital's chief financial officer.

Staff writer Sherry Jacobson in Dallas and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Well, good, the government's going to pay for it.

I was afraid that they were going to try to get the money from us.

I was afraid that they were going to try to get the money from us.

DO I detect a little Sarcasim?

DO I detect a little Sarcasim?

I certainly hope so.

SIXX, is it possible for you to locate the figures for each state in ref to above problem?

Originally Posted by Sixx

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued final guidance Monday that sets up a system for reimbursement. Lawmakers set aside $1 billion over four years for the program, created by Medicare legislation passed in 2003.

Wanna bet that the bill will be substantially higher than $1B when all is said and done?