Pilot program to offer free health care to illegal immigrant
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted May 29, 2008 @ 10:00 AM
Last update May 29, 2008 @ 11:21 AM
The Department of Public Health is introducing a pilot program to subsidize health insurance for illegal immigrants, Commissioner John Auerbach announced yesterday during a MetroWest-focused meeting.
Starting this summer, the department plans to enroll 50 uninsured people from a group of patients currently relying on the state's Safety Net Pool to cover their medical costs, Auerbach said. Given the recent health insurance mandate tracked through income tax returns, Auerbach said that group is now largely made up of illegal immigrants.
blog_icon Columnist Julia Spitz weighs in
To recruit the 50 test cases, Auerbach's department will send letters to some of the most frequent users of the Safety Net Pool. The department will then subsidize insurance coverage from private providers, tracking the volunteers to see if their health improves and if an expanded program could save the state money.
"We want to make sure we get results," Auerbach said after yesterday's meeting at the historic Gore Place estate in Waltham.
An annual event for the last few years, the meeting is held to discuss the department's initiatives and data and to get feedback from community health providers in the agency's "MetroWest" region stretching from Newton to Westborough.
While MetroWest has the lowest regional diabetes mortality rate, Auerbach said the disease was a growing state problem, with schools now encountering students with Type II diabetes. The commissioner called for community partners to help with prevention efforts, and said his department wanted the Legislature to require more screenings for the disease and to limit junk food at schools, as well as to provide incentives for doctors to check in more frequently with their diabetic patients. Type II diabetes is not insulin dependent.
"I don't think we're going to see measurable improvement unless we address it on many fronts," Auerbach said.
In other health areas, MetroWest residents have lower blood pressure on the whole than the rest of the state and are less likely to be obese, though Auerbach said weight remained a statewide concern. His department has started another pilot program encouraging employers to offer yoga and other healthy activities for their employees, with the agency hoping to recruit its first businesses in the region when the initiative is expanded in September.
As for disparities in health for minorities, MetroWest has lower rates for diabetes among whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics compared with the state average for each racial or ethnic category. However, the region reflects the same health differences between the groups, with blacks facing the highest rate of diabetes, followed by Hispanics, whites and Asians.
In response, the Department of Public Health has awarded $1 million in grants to community groups to address the problem and created the Office of Health Equity.
While applauding the efforts, Edna Smith of the Greater Framingham Community Church said minorities often don't have easy access to medical care, and, when they do, they often don't receive the proper services or must deal with providers who are not sensitive to their needs and concerns. She advised health professionals coming into minority communities to work with local groups and to take cultural norms into account.
"There's a huge need out there, but you need to know how to approach the communities," Smith said during a panel discussion after Auerbach's presentation. "You can't go out and say, 'Here I am. I'm the missionary here to help you."'
In the question-and-answer session that followed, Ann Farrell, the assistant director of Northeastern University's School Health Institute, asked Auerbach to speak with state superintendents about placing more value on school nurses and trying to keep them out of budget cuts.
"I think they need to get the message of how important school health services are," she said.
Auerbach, who earlier said school nurses were needed to provide health services to the student population, replied, "I'm willing to make a try."
(Michael Morton can be reached at mmorton@cnc.com or 508-626-4338.)
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/ ... immigrants
Wow, there are LOTS of comments left after this article. Here's a few to get you started.....
Im an American
1 day ago
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I have to pay for My health care. Why dont they give Me free health care? and arrest these law breaking illegals and use My tax money to send them back, instead of giveing them My tax money? They are being rewarded for breaking the law while millions of Americans have no health insurance. This is just encouraging more illegals to come here. unreal!
Who's paying?
1 day ago
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I'm troubled that Massachusetts is going to pour money into this program in a time when the state is crying poor mouth and looking to cut back on spending that supports other people. I know they're looking to save in the long run but the current fiscal crisis is here right now and if DPH wants to spend money I'd rather they give it to programs that are being cut now. Don't want to make it an immigration issue but it seems that people who aren't breaking the law should be first in line for money during these tough times.
Disgusted with MASS
1 day ago
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This is an abomination! This is exactly why this State is such a mess. While they're at it they may as well take our jobs and let all the prisoners out of jail early to take them! I'm ashamed to say I'm from Massachusetts, what a disgrace.
Realist
1 day ago
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Pack em up with their diseased ridden families sand ship em back where they came from.
Give up !
1 day ago
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You have got to be kidding !!!!! This is one of the reasons people who were born in this country are becoming very bitter. I have tried very hard not to but when illegal immigrants become more of a citizen than the people who were born here it is difficult not to. Maybe if there were not so many illegal immigrants in this country it might make it easier for those who enter legally. I work two jobs and still I do not make ends meet and tried for financial help but since I do work two jobs I do not qualify. How do I find a way for the government to help me ????? Maybe if I add an accent and stop speaking ENGLISH we who are actual citizens of this country will actually like living as AMERICANS again.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH% 21%21%21
1 day ago
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What is wrong with these people??? I can't believe we are paying for this. My father couldn't get health coverage for his cancer treatment and eventually died and he served 3 tours in Vietnam and yet an illegal immigrant leach criminal can get coverage? I am disgusted and embarrassed of my country and our elected officials today.
JUST AWFUL!
1 day ago
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What about the people that work hard and can't afford health insurance that were born here!!! Something is truly WRONG WITH THIS!!!!! Sad Really!!!!!!!!
Funny
1 day ago
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Seems everyone is agaist this, yet our federal government and local goverment ( Deval Patrick) WON'T listen to the AMERICAN tax payers. If this was on a ballot to be voted on buy the AMERICAN voters, do you think it would pass?
Chris
1 day ago
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This is absolutely ridiculous!! What they heck is this teaching our youth of today? Do something illegal - but don't worry - we'll take care of you with the money of the hard-working law abiding citizens of this state! This was a reason that I DID NOT vote for Deval! Nice Guy - but I surely don't want him in charge of my tax dollars!!! What about those of us that are here living here legally who have jobs and PAY TAXES????
Rich
1 day ago
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This is why illegal immigrants get a bad name. The problem is not that they want to come here and make money for themselves and their families, it's that we've got these government types that insist on giving them free food, health care, subsidized housing etc. Stop giving stuff away, we can't afford it anyway.
Rollo
1 day ago
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If they can track them down to give them free subsidised health care, they can track them down to deport them, and that's what should ber done with MY tax dollars. This is insane round them up and deport them not enable them. #$@#$^&&^$#@(*&&%^%
completely disgusted
1 day ago
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isnt this the reason they passed the law that all residents are supposed to have health insurance. if you dont have it tough... if your illegal get out... you dont belong here anyway... no one will miss you.... stop giving my money to them i would rather have it for my kids
Concerned Parent
1 day ago
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Can I sign up for free health care, free school lunches, free bus; or better yet how about WIC? While their kids have toys and cell phones that my kids only dream about. I'm a US citizen who dealt with my husband being sick with cancer for over a year and I couldn't even get a loaf of bread! What does that say for the system!
HUH?????????
1 day ago
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You gotta be kidding me - this is a joke, right? Instead of deporting them you want me to pay for their insurance???? I suggest we ALL contact our elected officials and Mr. Auerbach from the DPH. What's next with this state - you want me to pay for their groceries, heat and gas too???? DEPORT THEM, DONT REWARD THEM FOR COMING HERE ILLEGALLY !!!!!
Robin
1 day ago
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Unbelievable. "I-L-L-E-G-A-L alien". What part of that term is so hard to understand??! As a TAXPAYER in this state I was told that I had to buy health insurance which is totally outrageous in price or face consequences on my tax return. How is that even legal?! I did purchase it and it IS expensive, it takes about 25% of my income every month to pay for it. I recently received a notice from my health insurance that they are going to raise their high premiums even higher this year and that the co-pays also were going to go up resulting in further loss of income or consequences come tax time if they raise it so much I can't afford it. I have to get back and forth to work and with the price of gas these days choices are going to have to be made as there is little disposable income left over. I would love to have FREE healthcare! I agree with one of the above posts that said we need to all get accents and pretend we can't speak English that way I'd get to keep the money I pay on taxes AND get free healthcare :)
Franklin
1 day ago
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My town is laying off 46 teachers. Can I renounce my citizenship and get free health care?
