Health negotiators focus on illegal immigrants

By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer
Published: Thursday, Sep. 10, 2009 - 10:07 am

WASHINGTON -- Health care negotiators in the Senate are hammering out language to ensure that illegal immigrants can't get access to government funded insurance.

The issue is being revisited by a small group of negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee who met Friday morning. They are searching for an elusive bipartisan deal on President Barack Obama's health overhaul.

Members of the group said they thought they'd settled the matter, but it came to the fore this week when Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" at Obama during his speech Wednesday. Obama had said illegal immigrants wouldn't be covered under his health plan.

Senators said that it has forced the committee to work on a provision to verify legal status before an individual can get coverage.

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