Hospital warns migrants to pay up: Says failure could mean deportation

The Arizona Republic ^ | November 29, 2003 | Susan Carroll

[sarcasm]

TUCSON - Uninsured immigrants who fail to pay their medical bills are being reported to immigration officials and warned that they could face deportation under a new University Medical Center policy.

This month, hospital workers started calling the federal bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to turn in "foreign nationals" with delinquent accounts, said Barbara Felix, UMC's international patient service's coordinator. The policy, affecting legal and undocumented immigrants, reflects the growing frustration of hospital administrators along the U.S.-Mexican border saddled with millions of dollars in uncompensated care. UMC alone has incurred $3.3 million in unpaid bills from immigrants since July.

[DoughtyOne]

Paul Gattone, an attorney with the Southern Arizona People's Law Center in Tucson, called the hospital's policy "extortion."

"That's outrageous. It's potentially illegal and I think it may be a violation of these individuals' civil rights," he said.

I hadn't realized how many times I had been extorted in the past. I'm going to have to remember that one the next time my bills come due.

[sarcasm]

Won't work for you - you're an American

[Enterprise]

It's a tough way to collect all right. But ultimately, if illegals don't pay, hospitals have to close. Society's needs for hospitals to stay open outweigh the needs of illegal aliens to freeload.

[glorgau]

Actually, why not have them pay their bills and then deport them. They'll have less money with which to make their next cross over attempt

[DoughtyOne]

How well I know... ;)

[DoughtyOne]

Tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars later... our government still doesn't understand what you're saying. Of course you're right. Now, get some of the pinheads to acknowledge it.

[goldstategop]

They have the gall to complain. <sarcasm This American is going to pay $220 a month in 2004 for HMO health insurance. I'm sick and tired of having to subsize health care for illegal aliens. Two things: no its not an entitlement and its not a right. As far I'm concerned, what's immoral is hard working and law abiding Americans like me being ripped off by a bunch of ungrateful freeloaders who think we owe them a favor. Gevalt! Enough already!!! If illegal aliens receive hospital care and they don't pay up, deport them and send Mexican President Vicente Fox the bill.

[Penny]

Most hospitals don't close; they simply jack up the price for goods and services on American patients.

Ultimately, we, the taxpayers, are losers. Had hospitals years ago made similar threats, perhaps we wouldn't have the mess we have now, and perhaps jerks wouldn't be claiming "rights" of medical care. I don't recall the Constitution making that claim . . . Good day to you.
Penny

[Mo1]

"It is the right of all human beings to receive medical care regardless of their citizenship," she said. "That (policy) is saying, 'Don't come to the hospital because if you do, we'll turn you in.' It's frightening."

All you have to do is pay your bill and there is no problem

[goldstategop]

Yeah. Every year my health insurance ratchets skyward. Now I know why. I would love to receive free medical care. We Americans are such dummies.

[Lazamataz]

I am strongly against this outrageous hospital policy. It is completely wrong.

The hospital should report the illegals whether or not they pay.

[goldstategop]

Why does she think you and I have to pay the bill for her? Why can't she pay it? Imagine if they asked us to pay for other freebies besides medical care.

[autoresponder]

"Theft of services" over a certain dollar amount is a criminal felony.

Wilful, knowing, malicious fraud and theft.

Over 50% of convicts in US prisons are illegal aliens.

Yet they say (only?) 9-12 million in the USA are illegal aliens out of 290-300 million people in the USA now.

That means only 3-4% of the people in America who are illegal aliens (only?) make up over 50% of the (caught, charged, & convicted) serious and violent criminal felons in the USA.

Think about it!

Hold your politicians feet to the fire or lose your freedoms and liberties!

[Lazamataz]

All you have to do is pay your bill and there is no problem.

I think it's totally unfair. Why should reporting to INS be based on paying a bill?

They should be reporting to INS regardless of the bill.

[goldstategop]

Our politicians seem to think NOT giving them uncompensated medical care is immoral and unethical. Go figure.

[goldstategop]

Agreed. The costs illegal aliens impose on this country go deeper than just uncompensated medical care. There's free public education for their children, social services, and welfare. All of this is bankrupting California. To the illegal alien lobby the problem is not that those here are contributing to a lower quality of life for every one else, its that we are not generous enough. And they wonder why people are outraged when they express this kind of take advantage of the schmielers attitude to the rest of us. Things have got to change and this really can't go on much longer.

[Kuksool]

{Guadalupe Castillo, a Tucson immigrant advocate, called on UMC to revoke the policy, saying it was "immoral" and "unethical." "It is the right of all human beings to receive medical care regardless of their citizenship," she said. "That (policy) is saying, 'Don't come to the hospital because if you do, we'll turn you in.' It's frightening."}

I would not be surprised if some liberal judge issues this kind of ruling.

[goldstategop]

He's right. This is the kicker the politicians created that has brought AZ's medical system to the verge of bankruptcy and its being repeated all over the country:

Under federal law, hospitals cannot ask about a patient's income or immigration status, and they cannot turn away anyone seeking medical help.

[jocon307]

"Over 50% of convicts in US prisons are illegal aliens."

Is that true? It can't be, give me a citation,please. Because if that IS true, I can solve many problems with one stone.

Deport all illegal aliens in US prisons (except maybe some of the really bad one, we might want to keep them in custody, hoping for their deaths). This will free up prison space, it will show the world we are serious about immigration reform, and it will therefore discourage future illegal immigration.