Thread: Hospitals Lose Immigrant Care Money

Hospitals Lose Immigrant Care Money

Posted: Aug 28, 2008 08:47 PM CDT

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 08:47 PM CDT





By Bud Foster

"I am very disappointed," says US Senator Jon Kyl.

Kyl is upset because money he wriggled out of the federal government four years ago to pay hospitals for illegal immigrant care has dried up.

"I'm not at all happy. There's nothing I can do," he says.

Kyl was able to get Congress to appropriate a billion dollars over four years to pay hospitals all along the US Mexican border from California to Texas. It was part of the Medicare reform bill. It's called 1011 money.

"My hope was we could just keep extending it until we got some comprehensive immigration reform. That was my original intent," he says.

But as of October 1, 2008, the money goes away because it was not extended.

UMC, which has the only level one trauma center in Southern Arizona, was getting about $2 million a year. It helps reimburse the hospital for the $6 million it spends annually for emergency care for immigrants.

UMC officials were in Washington, DC last month lobbying for the bill.

"Obviously, it's very beneficial," says Marj Sisson. admissions director for the hospital.

There have been several multi-injury accidents this year involving immigrants, many of whom have been air lifted to UMC.

UMC us mandated by the federal government to give emergency care and says it will continue to do so even without the reimbursements.

"We do it gladly," says Sisson.

Kyl says he received no help lobbying for the bill.

"About a year ago, I started talking to the hospital association explaining that it was going to be a tough sell," he says. "They were going to have to get in the game and help me out. On several different occasions I conveyed to them if their didn't get behind it, it would be very hard to get it done."

However, it appears the issue has moved from the Senate to the House. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has introduced HB 6394, the "Border Health Care Relief Act of 2008", which is supported by the hospital association.

It would reinstate the $250 million annually.

But Kyl feels the money is not going to be there. He thinks the money is gone.

"I'm afraid so," he says.



http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s=8918537

But Kyl feels the money is not going to be there. He thinks the money is gone.

Yes Kyl, the money is gone because the American people are sick of paying for those who don't belong here! Traitor!

Yep... he is a treasonous slug. These political nut cases need to be investigated for kickbacks...

checking accounts, savings accounts, off shore accounts connected to these politicians need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb

I wonder how anchor babies will be classified. Are they considered U.S. citizens?

"There have been several multi-injury accidents this year involving immigrants(she means ILLEGALS), many of whom have been air lifted to UMC."

I guess so, running from United States Border Agents to keep from being deported! Thanks Senator if you would Secure Our National Borders and Enforce Our Immigration Laws there would not be a need for Billions to pay for medical care of ILLEGALS!!!!

"My hope was we could just keep extending it until we got some comprehensive immigration reform. That was my original intent," he says.

NO SENATOR KYL. THERE WONT BE ANY AMNESTY. HOW LONG WILL YOU BE HANDING OUT TAXPAYERS MONEY TO HELP ILLEGAL ALIENS?

UMC us mandated by the federal government to give emergency care and says it will continue to do so even without the reimbursements.

"We do it gladly," says Sisson.

Keep on doing it "gladly" until you're forced to shut your doors then. US taxpayers should not have to pay a single cent to treat people who have NO business being in the US.

Need to reach into that Senators pockets and take his money and then his home. Even if it means that his family goes hungry! Where is that kind of money when our own elderly American citizens are fighting for better health care plans as well as families with children that do not have healthcare?