Thread: TX: Report looks at cost of care for illegal immigrants

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/1646415 ... l=dfw_news

Posted on Mon, Jan. 15, 2007

Report looks at cost of care for illegal immigrants
By ANTHONY SPANGLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

A community advocacy group estimates that about 97,000 illegal immigrants live in Tarrant County and could be provided medical care through the taxpayer-supported JPS Health Network for less than $4.2 million a year, according to a report compiled by the group.

Allied Communities of Tarrant presented a preliminary draft of the report to several JPS board members, nearly eight months after asking the full board to repeal its policy that prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving charity care at Tarrant County Hospital District clinics.

The hospital district, which does business as JPS Health Network, reported surpluses of $39 million in the 2004-05 fiscal year, and preliminary figures show that it brought in $58.5 million more than it spent in 2005-06.

"If they have all this money and don't use it on care for illegal immigrants or the working poor, will the public ask them to cut taxes?" asked Patricia Gaffney, a member of the group. "We don't think it would cost very much to extend care to illegal immigrants and those who barely do not qualify for charity care."

A separate study

JPS' charity program, Connection, provides subsidized healthcare to legal residents of Tarrant County who earn between 150 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The ceiling at 200 percent is $40,000 for a family of four.

In 2004, the hospital board voted 6-4 to limit charity care at its clinics to only legal residents of Tarrant County. Healthcare providers cannot refuse emergency care under federal law.

The advocacy group has spent several months compiling data on the health and size of the illegal immigrant population in Tarrant County by extrapolating figures from census data and surveys and studies done by other government and nonprofit agencies.

JPS recently hired Phase 2 Consulting, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based RehabCare Group, to conduct a study on Tarrant County's illegal immigrant population to determine its size, health issues and potential cost to JPS.

The study by Phase 2 will cost about $145,000 and is expected to be completed by June, said Robert Earley, JPS senior vice president of public affairs and advocacy.

"We stressed objectivity of JPS's study, and I hope it serves as a tool for the community to determine any potential cost or shift in priorities in how we spend taxpayer dollars," he said.

The report by the advocacy organization estimates that it would cost JPS $2 million to $4.2 million to provide charity care at clinics for Tarrant County's illegal immigrant population, based on data from Harris County, where the public hospital system provides clinic-based treatment for illegal immigrants.

A 2002 study by the University of North Texas Health Science Center, which interviewed 319 Mexican immigrants living in the Fort Worth area, estimated that about 9 percent of the undocumented population has health insurance, but only 4 percent of those interviewed said their health was poor.

"The illegal immigrant population is much younger, and they have fewer health problems," said Jose Aguilar, a member of the group. "We don't think extending care to this population would be a burden on JPS."

Emergency room use

Although some argue that illegal immigrants turn to emergency room care as their only healthcare option, JPS officials say many still utilize their clinics but on a cash-for-service basis.

A 2006 study by Washington, D.C.-based Health System Change, a nonprofit healthcare think tank, reported that uninsured, low-income and illegal immigrant populations do not overuse emergency departments for primary care. Instead, the study shows that those with insurance or the ability to pay for more costly emergency care are responsible for crowding emergency rooms because treatment is often more convenient than waiting to see a primary care physician.

The advocacy group's reports cites a similar study published in the January/February 2001 issue of Health Affairs, in which it was found that about 4.4 percent of illegal immigrants use emergency rooms compared with 5.8 percent of citizens.

Policy crossroads

JPS board Chairwoman Erma Johnson Hadley has scheduled the group to present its study to the full board in February.

"We will certainly accept their report to us and appreciate their willingness to help us gather data that will help the board come to a decision on the matter," Hadley said. "ACT is very sincere about their efforts to get a decision they want from us. But I have to remind everyone that this is multifaceted issue and a national problem. It's not just about JPS."

The group's study was presented this month to Hadley and four other board members.

JPS board member Don O'Neal, who was among those who has seen the report, said he will wait for the JPS study before he decides how he will vote on the illegal immigrant policy.

"The ACT folks had a position before they did the study, so that could affect the results of it," he said. "I'm not trying to question their motives, but I think most board members will want to get both reports to make the best decision."

O'Neal said he has struggled with his position on the policy.

"A lot of people will be passionate saying we ought to provide this, but there might be some who disagree," he said. "We're charged with a lot of responsibilities, one of which is being responsible to the taxpayers. Everyone wants to see people treated who need care. But how do you prioritize those needs with the fiscal responsibility?"

BY THE NUMBERS

The study of Tarrant County's illegal immigrant population found:

$2 million to $4.2 million: cost to provide clinic-based healthcare

96,800: number of illegal immigrants living in Tarrant County

75 percent: amount of illegal immigrants who have no source of medical care

25 percent: amount of Texans who have no health insurance

SOURCE: A Matter of Life, Allied Communities of Tarrant

When I saw this and who this report was done by. All I could do is laugh. My suggestion to the this community. Let all the bills be paid by the Allied Communities group. There a joke.

I live in Tarrant county and as far as I am concerned these 97,000+ can go directly to jail, not pass GO and not collect $200.

"The illegal immigrant population is much younger, and they have fewer health problems," said Jose Aguilar, a member of the group. "We don't think extending care to this population would be a burden on JPS."

It's not about about burden, it's about invasion. Has the melting pot reached the boiling point yet?

Scuba,

Your right, that group is made up of Catholics, LULAC, The League of Women Voters... They have problems with their numbers. They are using numbers about the hospital out of publicans and not financials.

This is just another article, where they are trying to push their agenda. ACT likes to write OpEds for the Star-Tele.

I love it how they surveyed 139 illegals and the illegals said, yea we are healthy. Yea, give them free medical and they will milk it. They will suddenly have ingrown toenails removed, veneers put on their teeth and Brazilian bikini waxes if they can get it.

That study by ACT is slanted, with bad numbers and is conducted by people with no survey/stastic experience.

Dixie

Sheesh, I cancelled my Dallas Morning News subscription last year because I was so tired of their pro-illegal stance. Looks like I traded one pack-o-poop for another.