Suit: Cover child of illegal immigrant

By Martha Stoddard
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
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LINCOLN — A pregnant Lancaster County woman is challenging Nebraska's decision to end Medicaid coverage of unborn children of illegal immigrant women.

The woman, identified only as "Sarah Roe," claims that state law requires coverage of her unborn child.

The Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest filed the case on her behalf and on the behalf of other such women.

The suit restates many of the arguments made in a previous case, filed on behalf of an Adams County woman identified as "Jane Doe."

Lancaster County District Judge Karen Flowers ruled that Doe's case was moot following a change in state law. The change extended Medicaid coverage to pregnant women who were in the country lawfully.

James Goddard, the attorney who filed both cases, said the Doe ruling did not address the main issue of whether Nebraska is required to provide prenatal coverage for unborn children, regardless of the immigration status of their mothers.

"We're seeing a big impact in the health of mothers and babies," he said.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com

http://www.omaha.com/article/2011083...1/708319840/-1