Hospital not reimbursed for illegal immigrants' dialysis treatments
Tethered to the dialysis machine behind her reclining chair by two tubes attached to a catheter in her chest, Marta Berrera wearily stares at nothing in particular as blood flows out of, and then back into, her body.
Every four or five days, she shows up at University Medical Center's emergency room, her failing kidneys requiring that her waste be filtered and excess fluid be removed through artificial means.
"I am so thankful to this hospital for doing this for someone who is not a citizen," she said Thursday, an interpreter translating her Spanish as she choked back tears. "Without this help, I would die and my four children would be without a mother."
Wrapped up in Berrera's expression of gratitude is a dilemma that confounds the health care professionals at the only publicly supported hospital in Las Vegas.
"Our people are really torn," said Brian Brannman, UMC's chief operating officer. "We want to take care of people who are ill. We're proud that we can save lives. But our employees are also worried about the survival of UMC. They know that the appetite of taxpayers for helping undocumented immigrants is limited."
Since April, UMC has been spending about $2 million per month providing emergency dialysis services to 80 illegal immigrants, Brannman said.
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16 comments:
Simple solution: give them the dialysis, and when done, have INS waiting outside for them. I'm all for helping people but Mexicans live in a free democratic society with plenty of resources. If their economic situation is that dire, they need to hold THEIR leaders responsible, not the American tax payer.
And employers here need to STOP cheating the system by hiring them. At 9%+ unemployment, there's plenty of people that will pick oranges for you.
I dont care, its not my problem. Take care of Americans. Deport them all, dead or alive I dont care.
11:12 you plan to tell God that?
Ditto & Ditto.
I dont believe in God.
The Media refuses to discuss this dirty little truth--that the cost of taking care of illegal aliens is bankrupting our Health Care System. Case in point is California. It is absurd that we don't enforce our LAW.ANd the arguement that our Health Care system is not the best--those figures include homocides and accidents of which the U.S. has in abundance compared to Japan, and much of Europe. If you look at our Health care effectiveness without including homocides and accidents (I mean did 28 year old Heath Ledger die because of our Health Care system??) WE ARE THE BEST in taking care of the sick. Screw the people trying to ruin our Healthcare, Canada is trying to return to private insurance because their system is collapsing. WTF up people!!!
We are headed for a civil war! There needs to be a "war on immigration" right here in the USA!!!
I have no problem with us giving lifesaving care to illegal aliens,just because I have humanity.I do have a BIG problem with paying for non-emergency medical for illegals popping out a baby every year.We have people here who do that and burden the system so we dont need more of the same.But I just wouldnt be able to turn my back on a dying human being.Sorry,hardasses.
I agree that illegal immigration should stop. But we need to go after employers. Don't spend billions on a concrete wall when you can create an employment wall How hard is it to see that Pablo's social security number is written on toilet paper and he can't speak a lick of English? The employers are the problem and provide the simplest solution.
This is the #1 starting place with Healthcare reform then go after all the fraud and enforce the return of false claims within 48 hrs. That is what correcting the problem and making it better is all about. Not Obamacare by destroying what is in place and making the hard working Tax Payer still pay through their nose.
Doctors take care of sick people.
Governments protect citizens from invasion.
Any questions?
3:07
What the heck does that mean?
Doctors don't refuse to help sick people. The Hypocratic Oath is not a political tool.
However, it is the job of our government to prevent illegal aliens from invading our country.
1:14
They obtain false social security numbers. Some employers dont even know they are hiring illegals. They get a social security card with their name and someone elses number on it.
Again it our own fault,Remember nancy reagen old saying JUST SAY NO The meek shall inherit the earth
7:55
If you are trying to suggest the illegal invasion of our country is being done by the meek, and that they, are now inheriting our land, then, you are out of your mind!
The invasion is being orchestrated by the richest people in America. These illegal aliens serve a purpose in the destruction of our economy and job market for American people. The rich are not looking out for Americans.
Of course the poor Mexicans want to come here. They need to escape the CIA controlled drug trade which is tearing their country apart. They want American jobs. But the fact of the matter is it is illegal! Nations without borders don't exist. Right? Define a Nation. See, that was easy.
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