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EDITORIAL
'We might ... close'
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Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 10:46 a.m.
Last year, a Review-Journal report exposed the abuse of University Medical Center's emergency room by 80 illegal immigrants with failing kidneys. The dialysis treatments provided to these noncitizens costs more than $2 million per month, with the bills forwarded to Clark County taxpayers.
County commissioners and hospital administrators expressed frustration with the federal government's refusal to address illegal immigration and the burdens it places on the valley's only public hospital, which is required by federal law to help anyone in need of emergency care. Nevada's congressional delegation agreed the situation demanded a response.
Six months after that report, there's been a response, all right -- by illegals. The newspaper revealed Monday that 84 illegal immigrants now receive dialysis care at UMC -- about eight per day -- and as they get sicker, they cost Clark County taxpayers and UMC even larger sums of money.
All the public officials who spend your money and enable this crisis, meanwhile, still aren't talking to each other about the problem.
UMC leaders have yet to contact Mexico's consul in Las Vegas, despite his offer to try to provide help. Nevada's members of Congress -- especially its members of the Democratic majority -- haven't lifted a finger. And U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have yet to interview a single illegal immigrant receiving dialysis care.
"If this kind of thing goes on, we might have to close our doors," said Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, who chairs UMC's board of trustees.
This country expects legal immigrants to demonstrate the skills and health that ensure they won't become a drain on taxpayer resources. Yet its lawmakers and immigration authorities allow illegal residents to receive so much free health care that they imperil a public hospital's operations -- and the health of taxpaying citizens in the process.
"We need comprehensive immigration reform that includes a humanitarian provision where we can repatriate patients to their country of origin with the guarantee that care will continue once they are at home," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said of UMC's problems.
But there is nothing in existing immigration law to stop state and federal authorities from arranging the deportation of these noncitizens, and transportation to medical facilities in their home countries. Florida, Arizona and other states have already done so.
This is a lack of will, plain and simple. It is absolute cowardice.
No one expects ICE officials to storm UMC's emergency room, detach sick patients from dialysis machines, bus them to the Mexican border and dump them at the curb (and certain death). They must be made as healthy as possible before deportation, and provided with care during transport, if needed.
But how is it humanitarian to allow these illegals -- at 84 and growing -- to bankrupt a public hospital that provides the region's best trauma care?
County commissioners, members of Congress and ICE officials have known about this problem for six months. It they won't take action -- well-planned, compassionate action -- to relieve taxpaying citizens of this burden, then voters need to replace them with people who will.
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Concerning the illegal's that use our medical resources, this is where the biggest problem comes from across the country. Instead of all the changes that the Obama admin. wants, just cut out all the health care to illegals. Imagine the savings. I know what the law is but now is the time to change it. If an illegal needs healthcare we should first ask thier government to pick up the caos. If that doesn't happen then a one way ticket back to thier country for healthcare is cheaper than forcing us to pay for thier healthcare. When will the politicians and the bleeding hearts come to thier senses about all of this?
People putting thier money where their mouth is can be just as effective as government at solving the problem
Stop patronizing businesses that hire illegals. Businesses will adapt and advertise they have performed SSN checks and their employees are legal.
pay for what you want
Please read first comment posted by "Pedro". Right there is the real problem. That very attitude is what is hurting this country. The illegals have this righteous entitlement mindset. They put us down as in "evil white man", yet they want and expect us to pay for their healthcare. The very fact that they are ILLEGAL says it all. If you are an ILLEGAL, you do not AND should not have rights here in our country.
@Already Illegal-
It is prosecuted as a CIVIL tort against the state, not as a CRIMINAL activity, same as illegal entry into the U.S.
That is what needs to be changed and then enforced. Put some business operators in jail, and convict illegal immigrants with increasing degrees of offense, ending in imprisonment.
Steve F you're exalting form over substance. If what you're saying is true why are we paying for their care now? I'll tell you why. We have this federal law called EMTALA which says we have to treat them regardless of their ability to pay. Since they're illegal we have little ability to trace them and find them to collect.
Nothing will change under the new system. They'll still be here, they'll still need care and they'll still go to the ER's. The only difference is that we'll not be collecting the fines that they were supposed to pay for not buying the insurance.
And if that scheme doesn't work then we have amnesty coming up so Obama/Reid/Pelosi can make them all legal which will instantly expand our healthcare burden by millions.
Sure, some of this is speculation. But there's 84 patients at UMC that prove my point and I'll bet you 2 million dollars that Obamacare won't change that fact.