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Community clinics cutting services to undocumented immigrants
With the economy continuing to languish, community health clinics are beginning to look at cutting services to undocumented immigrants as a means of staying afloat financially.
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, approximately 59 percent of the 11.9 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are uninsured, accounting for about 15 percent of the roughly 47 million U.S. residents without health insurance.
Historically, the notion has been that it's cheaper to spend $100 per visit on such immigrants at a community health center than absorb $500 when that person ends up in the emergency department. However, the clinics say that with growing numbers of local uninsured residents to care for, and staff cuts underway, something has got to give.
To get more information on this trend:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item
Related Articles:
Group says illegal immigrants boost ED costs
U of IL hospital sending back Mexican immigrant
Comments
By HernandezUSA | Posted 3:29pm | March 16, 2009
Only, proves what millions of Americans have been stating for years about illegal aliens are a burden on our social system.
We need to stop the all social freebies and get illegals out of the medical system minus life/danger medical conditions.
The illegals can go to free medical clinics or better yet, go to their home country for free medical care and off our TAX dollars.
By Americana | Posted 5:05pm | March 17, 2009
Its about time these health clinics smartened up. American cannot afford to take care of people who do not belong in this country, let alone give them free healthcare. Let their own country do that. We have too many Americans that need help and we should not pay one cent for ANY illegal benefit. The only exception would be a quick one-way trip back to where they came from. Time for the free gravy train for the illegals to end!!
By DavidW | Posted 7:03pm | March 23, 2009
This has to be one of the more unfortunate side effects of the recession. I am glad there are organizations like New Routes to Community Health, newroutes.org that is trying to improve the health of immigrants.
By Anonymous | Posted 5:18pm | March 25, 2009
The best care in the country, second to none is being given at migrant and community health centers as well as Centers for the Homeless.
These are Americas best secrets. With most Americans now being one pay check or less away from financial ruin, a serious illness will have them out on the street.
These clinics have been around for 40+ years employ Board certified physicians as well as nurse pract. and Phys assts. (find out if your family doc is boARD CERTIFIED!) They offer care in a compassionate, non judgemental, high quality delivery, with CONTINUITY OF CARE. this means that a patient gets to see the SAME medical care giver
each time they go.
Most Americans would be fortunate to receive care at a Community health center. Unfortunately it takes a catastrophe for many to realize they exist.
I know. When I lost my job, and had an abnormal xray at an ER, the health center saved my life.
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