Thread: TX-Sen. Hutchison Fights to Ensure Texas Hospitals And Commu

Sen. Hutchison Fights to Ensure Texas Hospitals And Communities Don't Pay for Government's Inability to Secure the Border

Targeted News Service
WASHINGTON
May 20, 2009 Wednesday 4:09 AM EST

The office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, issued the following news release:

In 2006, public hospitals in Texas alone incurred nearly $600 million in uncompensated care for illegal immigrants. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas' senior senator, today introduced legislation to continue Section 1011 funding for hospitals, communities and doctors, allowing them to recoup expenses for emergency services provided to illegal immigrants that they are required to provide under federal law.

"Prior to this program's passage, our local hospitals and doctors received no support for expenses they incurred in obeying a law mandated by the government, and compounded by the government's inability to secure the border," stated Sen. Hutchison. "These costs are ultimately borne by taxpayers in the form of higher local taxes, increased health insurance premiums, cuts in healthcare services, and higher fees."

As part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, a federal reimbursement program for emergency health services provided to illegal immigrants that previously went unreimbursed was created. Known as Section 1011, the program provided $250 million each year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, to help hospitals and doctors recoup expenses for emergency services provided to illegal immigrants that they are required to provide under federal law.

These costs, if unreimbursed, are ultimately borne by taxpayers in the form of higher local taxes, increased health insurance premiums, cuts in healthcare services, and higher fees. The Section 1011 program helped alleviate this burden by providing long overdue reimbursement to emergency care providers.

Over 1,900 hospitals nationwide have registered with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to receive reimbursement through Section 1011, and unless legislation is enacted this year, claims will cease to be reimbursed.

Senator Hutchison's amendment would extend the Section 1011 program for 2009 and help all of those hospitals receive federal support for the costs they bear at federal expense.

Under the program, Texas received almost $185 million over the four year authorization period, the second largest allocation given to any state.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 92&start=5

Under the program, Texas received almost $185 million over the four year authorization period, the second largest allocation given to any state.

And it still wasn't enough to cover the cost.

Dixie

If Texas stops getting Fed $$$$,, they will start screaming like a banshee - and bring more publicity to the problem, the people of Texas have to start paying for ILLEGALS' medical bills,,, maybe they'll wake up & mobilize.

Here goes Hutchison throwing money at the problem instead of FIXING the problem. Since she supports a "guest worker" program, the hospitals will continue to lose more and more money. Deport illegals, and viola! Problem solved!

shotgun wrote:

If Texas stops getting Fed $$$$,, they will start screaming like a banshee - and bring more publicity to the problem, the people of Texas have to start paying for ILLEGALS' medical bills,,, maybe they'll wake up & mobilize.

I'm with you, shotgun. Let's stop all federal taxpayer funding where enforcement is not involved. I have absolutely no doubt that the states will get much tougher on illegal alien issues when the funding that allowes them to ingore the problem is ended.

Dixie wrote:

And it still wasn't enough to cover the cost.

The only way to deal with the burden is to effectively eliminate the problem. Throwing money at the problem only acts as a cover.

Originally Posted by MW

shotgun wrote:

If Texas stops getting Fed $$$$,, they will start screaming like a banshee - and bring more publicity to the problem, the people of Texas have to start paying for ILLEGALS' medical bills,,, maybe they'll wake up & mobilize.

I'm with you, shotgun. Let's stop all federal taxpayer funding where enforcement is not involved. I have absolutely no doubt that the states will get much tougher on illegal alien issues when the funding that allowes them to ingore the problem is ended.

Dixie wrote:

[quote:wjm6m3hq]And it still wasn't enough to cover the cost.

The only way to deal with the burden is to effectively eliminate the problem. Throwing money at the problem only acts as a cover.[/quote:wjm6m3hq]

I completely agree.....stop federal funding and the states will have no choice but to face the problem head on!