Thread: Healthcare, illegal debates merge:GOP, wants verif. tools

Posted on Sat, Aug. 08, 2009 Comments (17) Recommend (1) Print E-

Healthcare, illegal-immigrant debates merge: GOP pushes for 'citizenship verification tools’

By ANNA M. TINSLEYatinsley@star-telegram.com

The explosive issue of extending benefits and providing additional coverage for illegal immigrants is one battle Democrats are trying to avoid as they continue their hard push to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system.

Democrats say that safeguards are already in place to prevent the more than 12 million illegal immigrants in the country from being covered by any government insurance program, and they insist that nothing will change in the bills they are pushing.

But many Republicans question whether the current safeguards really do the job, and they are concerned that the Democratic plans would open "a back door" to government-run healthcare for those here illegally.

Republicans have tried to amend the bills to insert provisions making it clear that illegal immigrants won’t benefit, and they vow to keep trying.

This issue has become a flashpoint in the debate as polls show most citizens don’t want Congress to let illegal immigrants benefit from reform plans.

"Something better needs to be done than what is being done now," said Connie Baskette, 56, of Fort Worth

Democratic leaders say that illegal immigrants are not covered in the plan and that protections in place will prevent them from obtaining subsidies.

Republicans support measures such as a recent failed amendment that would have required "citizenship verification tools."

In Texas, healthcare for illegal immigrants cost hospitals about $1.3 billion in 2006, state comptroller estimates show.

The cost is high because illegal immigrants generally pay for medical costs out of pocket. So they tend to wait until they are very ill to go to hospitals or clinics, and those who cannot pay are often written off by hospitals as charity care, a practice some fear may continue under the new plan.

"I wouldn’t want to see laws change and have people die in emergency rooms, not getting care," said Alice Roche, a Fort Worth accountant. "At the same time, I’m concerned about the economy and about the taxes I pay."

Congress could vote on the overall healthcare plan soon after they return from their August recess.

Curbing abuse?

Estimates from the Center for Immigration Studies show more than 7 million illegal immigrants are among the 46 million without health insurance.

An amendment to specifically address illegal-immigrant healthcare concerns arose in a key congressional committee last month, when Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., proposed requiring that citizenship verification tools be used. He said the tools would cross-reference personal information.

"If the majority party insists on moving forward with government–run healthcare plan, Congress should do everything within its power to curb abuse," Heller has said.

His plan failed 26-15 in the House Ways and Means Committee, with the vote split down party lines.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said Heller’s measure wasn’t needed because the bill prevents anyone in this country illegally from gaining federal help for premiums, just as current law prevents those people from gaining Medicaid and other medical coverage.

"The rejected amendment would have for the first time allowed insurance companies to access sensitive personal information to shop for customers and for other commercial purposes, while avoiding any responsibility to protect individual privacy or provide redress for errors as currently required of government agencies," said Doggett, the only Texas Democrat on the committee.

Fellow Texan Rep. Kevin Brady also serves on the committee and said he does believe the amendment is needed.

"There are vague protections in there," said Brady, R-The Woodlands. "So vague you can drive a truck through them."

Potential problems

Heller’s proposal, which may find new life later, is geared to prevent illegal immigrants who may have counterfeit documents from being covered.

Some say it wouldn’t work.

"The problem with the citizenship verification tools is that of false negatives — citizens or other properly documented persons who the tools do not identify as such," said James Swan, a professor of applied gerontology at the University of North Texas in Denton. "It can be as simple as a middle name used one place (e.g., Social Security) and omitted another.

"This is a major problem when people are denied employment on a false basis," he said. "Now consider what this could mean for someone seeking health coverage, or even immediately seeking needed healthcare."

And it could create a problem for doctors, as well.

"This essentially makes hospital folks law enforcement folks," said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University.

"Do we want everyone who comes in to prove they are American citizens before they get treatment?

"We have already opened up our healthcare coverage to illegals — millions are being treated today," he said. "This isn’t a new problem."

Some say providing healthcare to illegal immigrants should be considered.

"Rather than having that person end up in our emergency rooms, costing us more, it makes sense to provide some preventative cost services, no matter what their status," said Kathleen Walker, an El Paso attorney and past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Obama has said that those in the U.S. illegally shouldn’t be included in the new plan but that there may need to be exceptions for youths.

"If you’ve got children who may be here illegally but are still in playgrounds or at schools, and potentially are passing on illnesses and communicable diseases, that aren’t getting vaccinated, that I think is a situation where you may have to make an exception," he told CBS News.

Ongoing debate

Most U.S. voters — 80 percent — say they are against giving government healthcare coverage to illegal immigrants through the plan Congress is working on, according to a June Rasmussen national telephone survey.

Some North Texas House members, including U.S. Reps. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, and Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, say they’ve already logged calls and e-mails from constituents on this issue.

One person sent a note to Burgess, saying: "I am writing to ask that you support any amendment to the bill that ensures that illegal aliens are prevented from benefiting from the health care bill.  . . .  It would be unfair for American taxpayers to fund a health care program that rewards those who have broken our laws."

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, said that’s not going to happen.

"The House healthcare reform legislation would not cover illegal immigrants, just as Medicare doesn’t cover them now," she said. "Any information contrary to that is false.

"When we are finished with healthcare reform, we will address immigration."

Other voices in the debate

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth: "Healthcare cost is a serious part of the reform debate taking place in Washington. I think it’s a legitimate issue to know who is receiving care in this country, especially when states like Texas spend millions a year to treat those who are not here legally."

The Minuteman Political Action Committee: The group sent out a statement stating that since the GOP’s amendment failed, "the bill denies health agencies from verifying the citizenship of patients against a federal base. And in so doing, illegal aliens will be provided with free health care . . . paid for by you and me!"

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville: "Those in this country legally should have no problem proving their legal status. However, there are millions of individuals in this country illegally, and in the context of true health reform, this is an issue that needs to be seriously addressed, but unfortunately it is not part of the current debate."

Andrew Rubin, vice president for Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates in New York: "I cannot see a scenario where illegal aliens are given access to any new government or private plan, nor would they be eligible for any pending subsidies.  . . .  There needs to be a better system [free clinics] to keep them out of the emergency rooms. Illegal immigrants are here now; you cannot ignore them."




http://www.star-telegram.com/local/stor ... 92-p2.html

I think they need to address the issue of what about really ill illegals who need dialysis and organ transplanst etc? Currently they get them at US taxpayer expense.

What do we about these patients? SHouldn't we check their status and refer them to deporation to their home countries for medical care? No one is talking about this aspect of it. And what about the ones currently receiving high cost care? This needs to be addressed too.

Are these safegaurds they speak of the same ones that supposedly keeps the illegals from getting wellfare,foodstamps,hud housing,driver licenses,and voter registration.If so THEY DO NOT WORK!!

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, said that’s not going to happen.

"The House healthcare reform legislation would not cover illegal immigrants, just as Medicare doesn’t cover them now," she said. "Any information contrary to that is false.

"When we are finished with healthcare reform, we will address immigration."

"When we are finished with healthcare reform, we will address immigration."

That is exactly what America is afraid of, Eddie Bernice![/u]