PART TWO of a 5 Page Full News Report (part 3 at bottom of page)
Between 1992 and 2001, visits to U.S. hospital emergency departments increased by
20 percent, while emergency departments shrank by 15 percent- resulting in longer waits
before patients receive treatment. Sixty-two percent of hospitals nationwide are receiving
patients at or over the operating capacity of their emergency departments.
As emergency rooms fill up, ambulances are rerouted- possibly with deadly consequences. At
least two states, California and Massachusetts, are investigating patient deaths
during ambulance diversions. Almost one in ten hospitals are in diversion status 20
percent of the time.
"This rapid escalation in losses has created an enormous burden on the remaining
emergency departments," reports the California Medical Association. "The drain
on the system has led to longer waits for treatment, and left entire communities without a
local emergency facility. Increasing patient volume and a decline in the number of
emergency rooms has made multiple hour waits for emergency care the norm."
When the 3.5 million immigrants receiving insurance through publicly-funded Medicaid are
factored in, almost half of immigrants have either no insurance or have it provided to
them at taxpayers' expense.
SKYROCKETING COSTS, CLOSING HOSPITALS
Lack of insurance leads many immigrants to forego or postpone medical care, especially
preventive care. Because this can cause medical conditions to deteriorate, it often
ultimately increases the cost of treatment. Many immigrants end up using hospital
emergency departments- the most expensive source of health care- as their primary care
provider.
Because emergency rooms must treat patients regardless of their ability to pay, high rates
of uninsured patients can spell financial disaster for hospitals. The cost of caring for
these patients is absorbed by the counties or hospitals obligated to provide treatment,
and some is passed on to insured patients.
CRISIS ALONG THE BORDER
The problem is particularly pronounced in communities near the southwest border, where
there are high populations of illegal aliens. Border hospitals reported losses of almost
$190 million in unreimbursed costs for treating illegal aliens in 2000 (about one-fourth
of the hospitals' total unreimbursed expenses).25 Had the report included physician and
ambulance fees and follow-up services, the total price tag for illegal aliens would have
been about $300 million, according to the report's authors.
The U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition studied the 24 counties next to the Mexican
border and concluded: "The disproportionate burden placed on southwest border
counties for providing emergency healthcare services to (illegal aliens) is compounding an
already alarming state of affairs.
In some hospitals, as much as two-thirds of total operating costs are for
uncompensated care for illegal aliens. The increase in such costs has forced some
hospitals to reduce staff, increase rates, and cut back services.
The problem has become so out of hand that some Mexican ambulance companies are now
instructing their drivers to take uninsured patients across the border to the United
States. The ambulances simply drive across the U.S.-Mexico border's many unguarded
crossings. The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health notes that the drivers face
little resistance at border crossings.
Dozens of hospitals in the counties along the border face severe losses caused by
uncompensated care provided to uninsured immigrants.
"I don't understand why I have to bear this expense. Border control is supposed to be
a federal problem, not a Schaefer Ambulance problem; it's just not fair."
I.M. McNeal, owner of Schaefer Ambulance Service (Imperial County, Calif.), which has
written off more than $620,000 over the last six years for uncompensated services provided
to illegal aliens.
News 3- Federal Government Sued States Cut Your Medical Care |
