Posted on 08/31/2008 4:18:33 PM PDT by radar101
"I am very disappointed," says US Senator Jon Kyl.
Kyl is upset because money he wriggled out of the federal government four years ago to pay hospitals for illegal immigrant care has dried up.
"I'm not at all happy. There's nothing I can do," he says.
Kyl was able to get Congress to appropriate a billion dollars over four years to pay hospitals all along the US Mexican border from California to Texas. It was part of the Medicare reform bill. It's called 1011 money.
"My hope was we could just keep extending it until we got some comprehensive immigration reform. That was my original intent," he says.
But as of October 1, 2008, the money goes away because it was not extended.
UMC, which has the only level one trauma center in Southern Arizona, was getting about $$2 million a year. It helps reimburse the hospital for the $$6 million it spends annually for emergency care for immigrants.
UMC officials were in Washington, DC last month lobbying for the bill.
"Obviously, it's very beneficial," says Marj Sisson. admissions director for the hospital.
There have been several multi-injury accidents this year involving immigrants, many of whom have been air lifted to UMC.
UMC us mandated by the federal government to give emergency care and says it will continue to do so even without the reimbursements.
"We do it gladly," says Sisson.
Kyl says he received no help lobbying for the bill.
"About a year ago, I started talking to the hospital association explaining that it was going to be a tough sell," he says. "They were going to have to get in the game and help me out. On several different occasions I conveyed to them if their didn't get behind it, it would be very hard to get it done."
However, it appears the issue has moved from the Senate to the House. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has introduced HB 6394, the "Border Health Care Relief Act of 2008", which is supported by the hospital association.
It would reinstate the $$250 million annually.
But Kyl feels the money is not going to be there. He thinks the money is gone.
"I'm afraid so," he says.
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"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Dear Kyl: STFU!
This is so simple, if an illegal comes in and needs lifesaving help, take care of him and deport him. If an illegal comes in and has a cold, give him an aspirin and deport him.
That may be true of Kyl, but it is really screwed up that the US (and local) government tells the hospitals they have to treat illegals but won't give them the funds. They should stabilize and deport.
And then send the bill to his home country.
If an illegal comes in, deport them to a clinic in Mexico.
In Atlanta Grady was going down until Woodruff ( Coke Foundation ) gave them 200 Million to meet costs. It is a matter of time these will close.
Hey senator dumbass.How about knocking off pissing our tax money away on the invaders healthcare? What a concept.Somebody has some real dirt on these senators and they need to get kicked out of office.
No money and no insurance?
Perhaps we can send Michelle Obama to dump them back on Mexican Hospitals. I hear she is quite good at that.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1531083/michelle_obama_oversaw_contentious_program/index.html#
Stabilize them and put them on a plane.
then STFU and PAY for it GLADLY... STOP making ME pay for it!!!
A billion here and a billion there - pretty soon you’re talking about a lot of money.
and then wait for the money. When hell freezes over we will solve the global warming problem.
Oh .Okay. So when the ED’s close their doors because we’re forced to give out “free” care you are good with that?
Why doesn’t Kyl go to Mexican hospitals and find out why there are so many bullets in those guys if he cares?
“It costs MONEY”
I bet it’s costing US citizens lives, too.
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