Calif. Hospitals Spend $1.25 Bil On Illegal Immigrants

Judicial Watch ^ | July 5, 2011

[jazusamo]

While the Obama Administration halts deportations to work on its secret amnesty plan, hospitals across the U.S. are getting stuck with the exorbitant tab of medically treating illegal immigrants and some are finally demanding compensation from the federal government.

The group that represents most of the nation’s hospitals and medical providers recently urged President Obama to work with Congress to reimburse them for the monstrous cost of treating illegal immigrants. Federal law requires facilities to “treat and stabilize individuals” regardless of their immigration status, but federal support for the services remains “virtually nonexistent,” according to a letter submitted by the American Hospital Association to the president.

This week officials in California, the state with the largest concentration of illegal immigrants, joined the call for federal compensation after revealing that hospitals there spend about $1.25 billion annually to care for illegal aliens. The figure skyrocketed from $1.05 billion in 2007, according to California Hospital Association figures quoted in a local news report.

The problem will only get worst, according to officials, who say the $1.25 billion for 2010 could actually be higher. They complain that federal law forces them to treat patients in emergency rooms regardless of immigration status yet they get stuck with the financial burden. This has forced many hospitals to curtail services or close beds and could ultimately compromise healthcare.

Nationwide, U.S. taxpayers spend tens of billions of dollars annually to provide free medical care for illegal immigrants with states that border Mexico taking the biggest hit. Adding to the problem is the fact that Mexico, the country that provides the largest amount of illegal immigrants in the U.S., has long promoted America’s generous public health centers. It even operates a Spanish-language program (Ventanillas de Salud, Health Windows) in about a dozen U.S. cities that refers its nationals—living in the country illegally—to publicly funded health centers where they can get free medical care without being turned over to immigration authorities.

[jazusamo]

Outrageous that Mexico can run centers in U.S. cities to tell illegals where to get free health care and not be turned over to ICE.

[subterfuge]

Hey Caleefornia—suck it! You put OweBama in office, get used to your shackles.

[NoLibZone]

Paying for the DNC votes buys that other American refuse to pay for.

[WayneS]

Calif. Hospitals Spend $1.25 Bil On Illegal Immigrants

This article is severely lacking. It doesn't even tell us how many illegal aliens the hosptials were able to purchase for their $1.25 Billion, never mind what they DID with them all...

[Joann37]

Exactly!

[EGPWS]

Calif. Hospitals Spend $1.25 Bil On Illegal Immigrants

ROTFLMAO!

Everyone from Maine to Washington state from the North and to the South pay for California hospitals and if Obama has his way so we will be paying much more via a state bailout!

[bgill]

That’s just one state’s expenses in one area of the gimme teat. That’s not what the hospitals charge US citizens to make up the difference. That’s not including housing, education, courts, police, etc. that’s needed for the 30 million or so illegals we’re babysitting in the other 49 states and US territories.

[Cheetahcat]

Just say NO, they can go home to get their medical attention.

[dhuynh73]

Why should we the American tax payer responsible for these kind of crab? These illegal should even be here and they are not entile to any benefits. We should not paid for these kinds of crab.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”The group that represents most of the nation’s hospitals and medical providers recently urged President Obama to work with Congress to reimburse them for the monstrous cost of treating illegal immigrants. Federal law requires facilities to “treat and stabilize individuals” regardless of their immigration status, but federal support for the services remains “virtually nonexistent,” according to a letter submitted by the American Hospital Association to the president. This week officials in California, the state with the largest concentration of illegal immigrants, joined the call for federal compensation after revealing that hospitals there spend about $1.25 billion annually to care for illegal aliens. The figure skyrocketed from $1.05 billion in 2007, according to California Hospital Association figures quoted in a local news report. “

I propose a idea a while back to handle this. Hospitals should be reimbursed for this ‘free’ mandated care under the federally mandated requirement but only if they either : Get the patient to identify themselves, or if not possible to get a valid ID they notify the Federal government that they have a ghost resident patient on their hands for them to investigate. Every uninsured (non-paying) patient should have at least one of the following :

1) VALID drivers license complying with REAL ID,
2) passport,
3) Green immigration card
4) valid SS number

Of course the weak link in my idea is having a POTUS that gives a crap, good luck on that : McCain, GWB, Obama forget it.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[Truth29]

How much is that per illegal Democrat voter?

[LibLieSlayer]

Hey moonbeam... do you have the balls to save your state 1.25 billion dollars... which is probably much higher because you know how well you dims lie and all... hey jerry... not one single American/Californian voter will feel this cut... so shine moonbeam... shine. Nah... you will back these enemy invaders to the hilt.

LLS

[jazusamo]

Illegals should only be treated for serious or life threatening issues and the final part of that treatment should be deportation.

[Cyman]

Hey, we have Border Patrol agents telling apprehended injured aliens that they are not under arrest but that they need to get out of the agent’s car(parked off of hospital property)and walk into the Emergency Department. If they arrest and deliver the alien to the local ED,some of the money for medical care is paid for by the Border Patrol. No arrests, no transportation to the hospital, no worries.

[jazusamo]

Amen to that!

[Bullish]

It also spends billions educating their children and policing their enclaves while they thumb their noses at America, staying patriotic and allegiant to their home countries. They're here to suck as much wealth out of our country as they can, and they're doing a darn good job of it.

[upchuck]

...hospitals there spend about $1.25 billion annually to care for illegal aliens.

Note it doesn't say the hospitals loose $1.25 billion because they don't. Much of that is made up through cost shifting, etc.

But I agree that if the Feds make the hospitals see patients who cannot pay, no matter the reason, the Feds should chip in for the cost.

Ideally, the Fed law should be changed to tighten up the loophole.

[jazusamo]

Correct, health care is only part of it.

Our politicians keep saying we can’t afford to deport the huge number of illegals that are here. I say we can’t afford not to deport them, they’re costing us more in welfare services than it would cost to deport them.

[EQAndyBuzz]

You go to the hospital, check your bill for “indigent treatment”.

I belileve this goes to pay for people who come to the hospital who cannot afford treatment.

Would hate to think we are paying twice.

[Bullish]

Hey Caleefornia—suck it! You put OweBama in office, get used to your shackles.

Dude, there are millions of good solid conservatives here in Calif. Don't lump us all in with those knucklehead idiots.

Might I remind you that the Forum you just posted that on is owned and run by a California conservative?

[arrdon]

TO HELL WITH CALIFORNIA AND EVERYONE IN IT. ENOUGH OF THIS OFF-THE-WALL INSANITY THAT IS CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIANS. May they go broke, and quick, and get no support from the U.S. government.

[bert]

The solution is pretty simple.

California should seize all Mexican assets and hold them in escrow pending payment from the sovereign state of Mexico

[Lizavetta]

My daughter went to the ER in January to get something for her terrible coughing due to bronchitis. Saw the doc for 20 minutes. Bill for said doc is $1,300, even after the Blue Shield adjustment.

[Brad’s Gramma]

So then, I can safely say you won’t be donating to the Freepathon?

[Bullish]

Our politicians keep saying we can’t afford to deport the huge number of illegals that are here. I say we can’t afford not to deport them, they’re costing us more in welfare services than it would cost to deport them.

We get nothing but more and more misery from supporting these citizens of other countries, we need to put an end to it at any cost.

AND NO MORE AMNESTIES!

[jazusamo]

Yep, very sad. Those ripoffs are where Hospitals are recouping part of the cost of treating illegals.

[EQAndyBuzz]

You go to the hospital, check your bill for “indigent treatment”.

I belileve this goes to pay for people who come to the hospital who cannot afford treatment.

Would hate to think we are paying twice.

[tcrlaf]

And yet, the media can’t figure out why hospital costs keep rising, and demand, and shill for, OBAMACARE...

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Illegals should only be treated for serious or life threatening issues and the final part of that treatment should be deportation."

That's what I was getting at. Just last week I had a freeper give me the 'We have to legalize them because we cant deport them all' straw man argument that was popular with Republicans 2007. So I laid out examples of how the Federal government could get them to stop lining up for free-bees.

[jazusamo]

So then, I can safely say you won’t be donating to the Freepathon?

Excellent point, BG. :-)

Maybe they'll reconsider and check post #11.

[Liz]

Vote-crazed Obama is sucking up to illegals bigtime.

Obama has done everything to get latino votes but don a sombrero and do the Mexican hat dance on the WH lawn.

[max americana]

>Hey Caleefornia—suck it! You put OweBama in office, get used to your shackles.<

Dude, we’re not all Obama leg-tinglers here. I didn’t vote for Moonbeam and neither do mexifornians who donate the most to FR. We are outnumbered by illegals and a-hole Dems.

[Godzilla]

My daughter went to the ER in January to get something for her terrible coughing due to bronchitis.

There are urgent care facilities for just this kind of thing - far cheaper than ER visits. Did you contact your PCF? Normally they have an on-call nurse that can also provide information and directions on how to handle things - again cheaper and without tying up the ER.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Naaaa...peeps who foam at the mouth like that don’t reconsider a thing.

I checked and he/she’s not even flying his state flag. Probably embarrassed..

:)

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Vote-crazed Obama is sucking up to illegals bigtime. Obama has done everything to get latino votes but don a sombrero and do the Mexican hat dance on the WH lawn."

He couldnt get all the Senate Dems to go out on a limb and vote for the Dream Act (late last year) without RINO defectors to give them cover. .

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Obama has done everything to get latino votes but don a sombrero and do the Mexican hat dance on the WH lawn.

He already has the donkey routine down. I won't go into explicit detail...

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Obama has done everything to get latino votes but don a sombrero and do the Mexican hat dance on the WH lawn. “

He will do this in September ;-)

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I won’t go into explicit detail... “

Might be fun!

[Liz]

Hope this helps.

[Liz]

Obama already has the donkey routine down. I won't go into explicit detail...

Heh---good one.

[kabar]

Education costs are the lion’s share of illegal immigrant costs and that is saying something.

[calcowgirl]

LOL.

[Monorprise]

“While the Obama Administration halts deportations to work on its secret amnesty plan, hospitals across the U.S. are getting stuck with the exorbitant tab of medically treating illegal immigrants and some are finally demanding compensation from the federal government. “

They are not only suck by the Federal Government with the bill of treating illegal immigrants but everyone else who shows up in the emergency room due to the 1986 Federal COBRA act.

The Federal Government morally owes theses hospitals competition for the losses the Federal goverment forces upon them with COBRA.

[Lizavetta]

I was out of town at the time. My mother took her in.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks sickoflibs.

[Godzilla]

The question still remains, why were ER resources used when there are other, less expensive alternatives available?

[Lizavetta]

Because the ER is the only thing my mother would ever consider. She would view the “other alternatives” as for the indigents and thus would never go. She’s very narrow in many respects.

[newnhdad]

solution??? raise taxes