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That can only mean that the indigents are all going to the ER for all their medical care, when they should be going to community clinics for non-emergencies. It's not the immigration status of the patients that's costing the hospitals money. It's the fact that ERs are being used as a primary care clinic rather than as a place to treat emergencies. Where I live in Illinois, there are practically zero illegals. 95% of people are white. Yet, we see the same behavior: people with hang nails show up in the ER for treatment.
Because they know they cannot get refused, get treatment and ultimately don't have to pay. Turn them away and who knows what legal suits could follow ? Loophole IMHO.
Having lived in CA most of my life before moving to TX I guess all the complaints from politicians, both local, state and national about how the state could not keep up with the money needed to treat people both legal and illegal that were not paying their medical bills were just a figment of my imagination. Do you think the hospitals just eat the costs?
But since you asked.
Health care providers in the U.S. will, as from this week, be able to charge the government for emergency care they provide to illegal aliens.
Final guidance was issued on May 9th by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which has set up a system for reimbursement. $1 billion has been set aside over four years to fund the program which was created by Medicare legislation passed in 2003.
You own link says it all: the government has in fact not been paying for hospital care for illegals. The government has yet to do it. Future tense as opposed to past tense.
I told them I could afford to pay. I had just paid cash for my home in TX and had $$$ in the bank. The clinic was set up for people that had no health insurance so they were not set up to take payment. I talked to the girl at the desk and said this is why we have such a mess in out health care system. She agreed.
When I was self-employed in CA I could not get insurance once my COBRA ran out because 5 out of the 6 in our family had pre-existing conditions. I had money to pay the premiums but nobody would cover us.
You have just made a good case for health care reform.
Because they know they cannot get refused, get treatment and ultimately don't have to pay. Turn them away and who knows what legal suits could follow ? Loophole IMHO.
It all boils down to documentation. Of course anyone can sue anyone, but if the ER staff has properly documented that the patient was asking for treatment for a hang nail and was told to go to the clinic instead, then if the patient is unhappy with that recommendation, let him sue all he wants. He'll be shooting himself in the foot. Ouch.
Illegal immigrants can get emergency care through Medicaid. But they can't get non-emergency care unless they pay. They are ineligible for most other public benefits.
Illegal immigrants can get emergency care through Medicaid. But they can't get non-emergency care unless they pay. They are ineligible for most other public benefits.
I don't think they can get medicaid. The emergency care they get is written off if they don't pay the bill.
I don't think they can get medicaid. The emergency care they get is written off if they don't pay the bill.
Here's where I found that information. The way I read it is that they must attempt to pay the bill just like anybody else. It's written off if it's noncollectable.
Be through increased costs via medical bills and insurance premiuims or directly from the government, what difference does it make?
The taxpayer pays it in the end.
People keep referring the "the government" as if it is some remote entity. When it comes to paying 'we' are the government.
No need to speculate on whether illegal aliens are eligible or not for Medicaid. Go direct to the source: Who is eligible for Medicaid? (http://www.hhs.gov/faq/medicaremedicaid/653.html - broken link)
Money quote:
Quote:
Many groups of people are covered by Medicaid. Even within these groups, though, certain requirements must be met. These may include your age, whether you are pregnant, disabled, blind, or aged; your income and resources (like bank accounts, real property, or other items that can be sold for cash); and whether you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant.
Only US citizens and legal immigrants (green card holders) are eligible for Medicaid. Illegal aliens have never been eligible for Medicaid. The statement that illegals can get Medicaid is a myth.
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