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Press Release Source: Burt & Associates

National Debt Recovery Firm Burt & Associates Tells Mexico: Pay Up!
Tuesday August 22, 5:20 am ET


DALLAS, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was released today by Burt & Associates:
It's not often that you get to tell a sovereign government to pay its debt. But that's exactly what a Texas-based financial services company is asking the government of Mexico. "Or as we say in our industry," says Jerry Curtis, President and CEO of Burt & Associates, "will that be by check or credit card?"

It all started when Judge Margaret Keliher, a Dallas county judge, went on a national radio talk show. During the interview, she lamented the fact that illegal and uninsured Mexican immigrants were abusing the county's medical facility, Parkland Hospital, to get medical services.

These services range from emergency room attention to ongoing pre- and post-natal care. They walk away, leaving Dallas county residents holding their medical bills. Over time, the cost has ballooned to well into the $15 million range.

"We are understaffed and overworked," said a Parkland employee who asked not to be identified. "They (Hispanic immigrants) come in with little or no documentation. Plus, we just don't have the time to sit there and fill out paperwork properly."

Amassing A Huge Debt

This scenario is being repeated in communities all over the country. For example, in Arizona, state officials estimate that Hispanic immigrants have cost medical facilities $39 million in unpaid medical expenses. In California, that number nearly doubles to $78 million and in Florida the cost is $45 million. Nationwide, the annual cost to medical facilities and other providers for treating undocumented Hispanic immigrants reaches well over $5 billion each year.

Back at Parkland, its not just Hispanic immigrants from Mexico that are misusing the facility's services. To be fair, various counties in the Dallas- Fort Worth area and even fraud cases within the county are also responsible for amassing a huge debt that exceeds $70 million.

But as Curtis points out, it doesn't stop there. "Take the case of an Hispanic expectant mother-to-be. She may be here illegally from Mexico. She and her newborn can run up a hospital bill of at least $7,000. They can then sign-up for welfare services and continuing Medicaid benefits well after the birth. Now we are talking about an undocumented immigrant and her child, receiving thousands of dollars in Medicaid and welfare benefits that were intended for needy American families."

In fact, according to the federal governments own projections, the overall financial burden by illegal aliens and their families on our government is estimated to be well over $30 billion each year.

"Do you want to collect, or don't you?"

The government of Mexico has been expectantly silent on the matter. "Before anyone thinks that I'm unfairly singling out Mexico," Curtis continued, "And if these people really stand on principle, then they should step up and sign over a check for $16,500 to all these counties across the country, because that's the average cost to care for a Mexican citizen and her baby."

Mr. Curtis further observed that Dallas public officials seem to be paralyzed by this issue. "We have written letters requesting action from the Dallas county judge, the Commissioners Court and Parkland Hospital and all we have received is silence. Now they've all washed their hands of it by appointing a do-nothing Task Force. So my question to our public officials is, 'Do you want to recover this money or is this a whole lot of political showboating.' I think Dallas-county taxpayers deserve an answer. In my business, we're aggressive by nature. I think it's time for corporate America to start holding people accountable."

He also challenged the government of Mexico by saying, "It's time for you to be responsible for your citizens living illegally in the U.S. They have abused our public medical system, our educational system and our goodwill in general. Now is the time to do the right thing. Will that be by check or credit card?"


Contact:
Eli Hernandez
Vice President, Marketing
Burt & Associates
P: 469.368.6434
ehernandez@burtcollect.com




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Source: Burt & Associates






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