Medicaid Hurdle for Immigrants May Hurt Others (NYT)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/us/16medicaid.html?ei=5094&en=b051e3aa4922ec13&hp=&ex=1145160000&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1145157538-+Jmywbj2ixaKKbL0O1m92A

Medicaid Hurdle for Immigrants May Hurt Others


By ROBERT PEAR
Published: April 16, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 15 — More than 50 million Medicaid recipients will soon have to produce birth certificates, passports or other documents to prove that they are United States citizens, and everyone who applies for coverage after June 30 will have to show similar documents under a new federal law.

The requirement is meant to stop the "theft of Medicaid benefits by illegal aliens," in the words of Representative Charlie Norwood, Republican of Georgia, a principal author of the provision, which was signed into law by President Bush on Feb. 8.

In enforcing the new requirement, federal and state officials must take account of passions stirred by weeks of national debate over immigration policy. State officials worry that many blacks, American Indians and other poor people will be unable to come up with the documents needed to prove citizenship. In addition, hospital executives said they were concerned that the law could increase their costs, by reducing the number of patients with insurance.

The new requirement takes effect on July 1. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will save the federal government $220 million over five years and $735 million over 10 years.

more...

Will hospitals now deny immigrants medical care because they can't get Medicaid reimbursements?

Is this the country we should be?

The savings could extend the Iraq war for ... hmmm ... roughly a day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2220393