Payments to Help Hospitals Care for Illegal Immigrants.
The Bush administration announced on Monday that it would start paying hospitals and doctors for providing emergency care to illegal immigrants.
The money, totaling $1 billion, will be available for services provided from Tuesday through September 2008. Congress provided the money as part of the 2003 law that expanded Medicare to cover prescription drugs, but the new payments have nothing to do with the Medicare program.
Members of Congress from border states, like Senator Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, had sought the money. They said the treatment of illegal immigrants imposed a huge financial burden on many hospitals, which are required to provide emergency care to patients who need it, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay.
(5-10-05, The New York Times.)
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Although these funds will come from Medicare, I can't help but think about the reaction of some given the huge cuts in Medicaid that are coming daily.
The money, totaling $1 billion, will be available for services provided from Tuesday through September 2008. Congress provided the money as part of the 2003 law that expanded Medicare to cover prescription drugs, but the new payments have nothing to do with the Medicare program.
Members of Congress from border states, like Senator Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, had sought the money. They said the treatment of illegal immigrants imposed a huge financial burden on many hospitals, which are required to provide emergency care to patients who need it, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay.
(5-10-05, The New York Times.)
_______________
Although these funds will come from Medicare, I can't help but think about the reaction of some given the huge cuts in Medicaid that are coming daily.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 5:45 AM
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