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U.S. Denies Health Care to Newborns of Undocumented Residents

All children born in the U.S. are United States citizens. But the Bush-signed Deficit Reduction Act that went into effect in July prevents Medicaid from covering health care benefits to those born to undocumented residents -- unless the parents file proof of citizenship for the child, which is a catch-22 because the application form takes weeks or months and many of the immigrant parents don't want to alert authorities to their presence here.

Hospitals are just now catching up with the law's demands and doctors are justifiably outraged:

Dr. Jay E. Berkelhamer, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the policy “punishes babies who, according to the Constitution, are citizens because they were born here.” Dr. Martin C. Michaels, a pediatrician in Dalton, Ga., said that continuous coverage in the first year of life was important because “newborns need care right from the start.”

“Some Americans may want to grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants, and others may want to send them home,” Dr. Michaels said. “But the children who are born here had no say in that debate.”

Compassionate conservatism at work. Vote these xenophobic louts out November 7. These babies are citizens and entitled to every advantage we can provide. Every child is entitled to an equal chance to succeed. Medical care during the first year of life is critical.

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    second class citizens (none / 0) (#1)
    by Jen M on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 07:18:54 AM EST
    from birth.

    Gee, which animals on the farm said that some were more equal than others?

    National Health Care (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 08:43:05 AM EST
    Perfect example why we need national health care.

    That way the children of illegal aliens and the children of working poor Ameicans will have care.

    In the meantime I am sure that Doctors Berklehamer and Michaels are working at free health care clinics to help out. Doctors??? Doctors????

    Now, on the political side, from the post:

    unless the parents file proof of citizenship for the child, which is a catch-22 because the application form takes weeks or months and many of the immigrant parents don't want to alert authorities to their presence here.

    What proof do we have on the time frame? It is my belief that all that would be required would be certificate of live birth and a certified copy of the application.

    No, the real issue is that the parents don't want to reveal status and address. Too bad.


    As bad as it is (none / 0) (#3)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 08:57:01 AM EST
    I have to sign my children up for health care, otherwise they don't get it.  Why shouldn't they?

    Might seem fair on paper, but... (none / 0) (#5)
    by roy on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 10:25:29 AM EST
    If I'm reading this right, the new rules seem sort of fair in that all parents -- legal resident or not -- have to go through the same steps, but in practice illegals will be much more likely to refuse or fail to do so.

    The so effect -- and maybe the point -- is that the government requires citizens (the newborns) to suffer due to the actions of illegal aliens (their parents).  Isn't that what all the various reform ideas are supposed to prevent?


    Parent

    I'm not sure how I feel about this, but (none / 0) (#6)
    by Gabriel Malor on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 10:49:30 AM EST
    My first inclination is that good parents put the welfare of their children above their own. It may be sad that illegals want to continue in their illegal course, but to punish their children for it seems a fundamentally bad choice.

    Parent
    Tricky balancing act (none / 0) (#7)
    by roy on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 11:21:51 AM EST
    Does doing the paperwork to get Medicare coverage really consitute putting the welfare of the child first, if it increases the risk of the child's parents being arrested and deported?

    If the parents are detained, the kid can probably get Medicare coverage but it's a crapshoot for who will take care of the kid.  Hopefully a family member, maybe some state agency.  Is that better than emergency-only care while being raised by the parents?

    If the parents are deported, they'll probably take the kid with them.  So the kid still won't get Medicare and will have to make due with whatever is available in the parents' homeland, which may or may not be better than the emergency care available in America without papers.


    Parent

    Re: TBA (none / 0) (#9)
    by Gabriel Malor on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 11:34:54 AM EST
    I agree that it's a balancing act. We need immigration reform. Note, that my focus is on the immigration problem here, because I think it is entirely reasonable that Medicaid be reserved for citizens. That's why I'm not saying that this indicates the need for Medicaid reform (like Jeralyn does).

    There's no reason at all the federal government should be required to give out medical aid to all comers. But Congress has extended those benefits to citizens and our current immigration system has led us to this problem. Reform immigration.

    Parent

    To the dogs (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 09:57:20 AM EST
    Household pets get treated better...the US as a whole has taken a turn towards the cold-hearted...hardcore.  

    A sick infant shows up at a hospital in America...the last thing on anybodys mind should be the childs immigration status or who is paying the bill.  You treat the child, period.  That's what is important.

    I agree (none / 0) (#11)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:03:40 PM EST
    Can you show me an instance where a child in need of medical treatment was refused service.  

    Parent
    no (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 05:13:18 PM EST
    I can't Pat...but isn't that the expected outcome here, denying care?  Illegal immigrant parents of citizen children will be unable to sign up their citizen children for medicaid, potentially putting hospitals in the position of either starting to deny care to uncovered infants or going bankrupt.

    Bottom line...no infant should be put in such unnecessary danger...either from the parent's fear of arrest or the hospital's fear of not getting paid.  There are other ways to deal with this so called immigrant problem.

    Parent

    No, I don't think it is (none / 0) (#36)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 05:45:41 PM EST
    I think the expected outcome is to deny free  health care.  They can pay for whatever health care they want..

    BTW health care is non-emergent type care.  

    Parent

    Who can pay? (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 06:16:46 PM EST
    They can pay for whatever health care they want..

    Who can, the infant?  I don't know too many with cash.  We have a safety net for our youngest citizens whose parents can't afford to pay...and I like that about our country.  I see this as an attempt to deny some infants that safety net.  A lot of non-emergency stuff is important...immunizations, medications, checkups, prevention.  There is no room for intimidation or exclusion of any sort when it comes to the healthcare of children, imo.  If we can't at least do that what good is the system.  We should be doing more in the way of community out-reach letting people know the free or discounted medical care available...not the opposite, discouraging access.

    Parent

    Mandatory irrationality (none / 0) (#8)
    by roy on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 11:32:33 AM EST
    If I'm reading this right, the new rules are in effect even if the hospital delivered the baby.  An administrator can literally watch a baby be born within our borders, then be required to handle further treatment as though the kid is a non-citizen until the government produces a form saying, yes, that thing you saw happen from three feet away really did happen.

    And doctors are effectively required to stick placenta-covered fingers in their ears and chant "la la la I don't have the proof that you are a citizen soaking into my scrubs".


    Well, I disagree (none / 0) (#10)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:02:54 PM EST
    I'm sure that comes as a shock!

    U.S. Denies Health Care to Newborns of Undocumented Residents

    This is patently false.

    The U.S. does not deny health care to newborns of illegals, it denies free Medicaid healthcare to them until they get their citizenship papers.

    iow, the children can get healthcare the same way their illegal immigrant parents get theirs, ie., it's bought and paid for - just like their (and our) clothes, food, lodging, TV, Tecate, whatever.

    Additionally, and I'm too lazy to google it, I believe hospitals are not allowed to turn away a patient if his illness/injury is life-threatening, regardless of the patient's immigration status and/or ability to pay.

    (Obviously a very strong argument could be made of defining "what constitutes life-threatening," but that seems to be different conversation altogether.)

    Although, in a way, I do hope TL's headline is repeated in every newspaper in Mexico, in that it may dissuade some there from taking the risk of becoming illegals here.

    Headlines (none / 0) (#12)
    by roy on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:18:56 PM EST
    I guess it should read "US [Government] Denies [Most Free] Health Care to Newborns of Undocumented [and Other] Residents [Who Don't Do the Paperwork]"

    Parent
    Or something like that... (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:30:35 PM EST
    ...btw, I forgot to compliment you on this one:
    And doctors are effectively required to stick placenta-covered fingers in their ears and chant "la la la I don't have the proof that you are a citizen soaking into my scrubs".

    You can turn a phrase!

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#14)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:40:46 PM EST
    Are we talking about basic health care (Shots, check-ups etc) or are we talking about emergent care.  I think there's a difference.  Medicaid covers both types of treatments.

    Parent
    Good point Patrick (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:44:44 PM EST
    U.S. Denies Health Care to Newborns of Undocumented Residents

    This is patently false.

    The U.S. does not deny health care to newborns of illegals, it denies free Medicaid non-emergency healthcare to them until they get their citizenship papers.

    Parent

    I thought so, but (none / 0) (#16)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 12:59:50 PM EST
    The U.S. does not deny health care to newborns of illegals, it denies free Medicaid non-emergency healthcare to them until they get their citizenship papers.
    ...

    ....doesn't bring to mind the images of bleeding babies, while horrified doctors look on crying, if only George W. Bush hadn't.....

    Parent

    I bet (none / 0) (#17)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:26:36 PM EST
    that Michelle Malkin is glad she got in under the wire.

    ...it denies free Medicaid non-emergency healthcare to them...

    Do you even read your own posts? Denial for five minutes could cost a life.

    Whatever! (none / 0) (#18)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:34:01 PM EST
    Oh yeah, if I don't get the Chickenpox shot in five minutes I'll be dead..aaahhhhhhhhh!  

    I'm sorry Ms Smith, your well-baby checkup was at 1:15, you're more than 5 minutes late...

    And you practice medicine..or so I've been told.

    If a life could be lost in 5 minutes, it would arguably be emergent care, and not denied, right?

    Parent

    Che (none / 0) (#22)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:49:07 PM EST
    I know you like to "run-and-gun" here, but your comment makes absolutely no sense in response to anything I've written.

    Parent
    Not as big a deal as it appears (none / 0) (#19)
    by armleg on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:44:25 PM EST
    If undocumented parents want to have medicaid coverage for their children, there is little to no risk in that action.

    A parent (lets assume the child is already born)comes into a county aid agency, and wants to apply for medical coverage for the child.  They don't want it for themselves, only fo the child.  They complete the application request, only requesting for their child.  They are asked to provide proof of citizenship for the applicant child.  If they do not have a birth certificate already (perhaps because the child was born a day or two ago, or at any time prior to the issuance of the BC) they request one.  In the meantime, the medicaid application is still being processed.  The important thing to remember is that the medicaid application can be approved even without the proof of citizenship as long as the parents are cooperating with efforts to aquire the required documents.  Even if the child was born two months previous, and has had several emergency room visits to receive care and now the family has a very large hospital bill to pay, the family can ask for retroactive medical coverage for up to three months.

    To my knowledge, there is no immigration risk to requesting a birth certificate, especially as the parent does not even need to sign the vital statistics request, becuase it can be done by their county aid worker.

    In short, this is a non-issue that does not change anything for the newborn children of non-citizens (either documented or not) because their application should not be held up or denied if the parents are either making an effort to secure a birth certificate, or cooperating with efforts to aquire a birth certificate.

    as well as... (none / 0) (#20)
    by armleg on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:47:54 PM EST
    it would probably be a violation if HIPPA law to inform ICE that there was a medicaid request being made by an undocumented resident.

    Parent
    14000' view (none / 0) (#21)
    by LonewackoDotCom on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 01:48:09 PM EST
    If you want to prevent problems like this, your only option is to prevent illegal immigration. Those who support illegal immigration in any way are just making things worse for everyone (except their employers and the Mexican government).

    More complex than that (none / 0) (#23)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 02:32:30 PM EST
    If a life could be lost in 5 minutes, it would arguably be emergent care, and not denied, right?

    Arguably? Yes. In reality? No.

    5 minutes, 5 days, even 5 weeks is less time than it take to process the paperwork. In the meantime a child is DENIED scheduled immunizations, office visits and medications (if needed), which often results in more expensive care later on.

    SUO, What does "run and gun" mean? How does that differ from other posters?

    Less complex than that (none / 0) (#26)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:10:28 PM EST
    Che, if a patient has an illness or disease that threatens their very life (w/in, as you say, 5 minutes) they will be treated regardless of the patient's immigration status or ability to pay.

    In the meantime a child is DENIED scheduled immunizations, office visits and medications

    The child is DENIED nothing. If the (illegal immigrant) parent feels such immunizations etc. are important enough for their child, they'll either pay for them, like they pay for everything else, or they'll take advantage of non-Medicaid programs like the ones that exist in your home town:

    Children under 24 months of age are immunized free. The cost to everyone else is $10 for the clinic visit at San Diego County Public Health Centers and their satellite locations, regardless of how many shots are given.

    "Run and gun," to me, are quick, short, acerbic comments, that perhaps could also be described as "drive-by" in style, often attempting to be pithy and often with little to no explanation, which, as a result, too often make little or no sense to anyone beside the author.

    Parent

    But they can apply for medicaid. (none / 0) (#30)
    by armleg on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:24:57 PM EST
    The child is DENIED nothing. If the (illegal immigrant) parent feels such immunizations etc. are important enough for their child, they'll either pay for them, like they pay for everything else, or they'll take advantage of non-Medicaid programs like the ones that exist in your home town:

    As I had said before there is nothing to prevent the parents in question from applying for medicaid for the child.  It can take some time, up to 45 by law to process the application, but the child will have medical coverage.

    To reply to what Che had said, it can take some time for the provider to be reimbursed, but that is not the question at hand.  The child still receives medical care.  The child is not punished for the parents imigration status.  

    Parent

    Denial of care is not because.. (none / 0) (#24)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 02:41:45 PM EST
    clinicians say no. We never say no. But the parents are intimidated enough to avoid office visits (where prevention occurs) due to the uncertainty and lack of information that would reassure them that they would not go broke or risk being deported if they take their child into a doctor's office. Instead they use the ED as their primary care clinic. By scaring and not informing these people we drive up health care costs. So we only hurt ouselves with this system.

    You think (none / 0) (#25)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:08:11 PM EST
    that all "emergencies" are seen in the ED? Ever had an asthma attack? I've coded people in doctor's offices. I've intubated people in doctors' offices. Those are not covered as emergency care by Medicaid and others, simply because of location. They will deny coverage as long as possible to keep people from pursuing them, retroactive or not, for such emergencies. It takes MONTHS of phone calls and letters to get them to finally cover a fraction of the cost (average reimbursement=20% of actual fees). I sense an oversimplistic view of the healthcare reimbursement system by those here who do not work in the medical profession. But that does not seem to stop some uninformed individuals from spewing histrionic blather as some sort of cogent response. To wit:

    Oh yeah, if I don't get the Chickenpox shot in five minutes I'll be dead..aaahhhhhhhhh

    Goddam that is stupid!

    Except that (none / 0) (#28)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:14:30 PM EST
    Oh yeah, if I don't get the Chickenpox shot in five minutes I'll be dead..aaahhhhhhhhh
    is a perfectly reasonable reponse to this:
    Denial for five minutes could cost a life.
    Do you even read your own posts?

    Parent
    A "chickenpox shot"? (none / 0) (#27)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:12:47 PM EST
    Patrick,
    Is this your foundation of medical knowledge that empowers you to debate healthcare issues?

    SUO (none / 0) (#29)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:21:44 PM EST
    Then set up your own site and ban me. Otherwise, put up or shut up. You have reduced your comments, like Patrick, to criticizing other posters' techniques. You RWNJ's always turn into a bunch of crybabies anytime you get challenged. Try staying on topic for a change. Or is that too frustrating?

    Che (none / 0) (#32)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:40:17 PM EST
    Wow. Honestly, that's some mierda loco, man.

    Ah well...hasta lumbago.

    Parent

    What reality do you live in? (none / 0) (#37)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 05:56:53 PM EST
    Cry baby?  I'm not the one getting hysterical here.  You're just a poor sport cause you being shown how foolish your hystrionics really.  

      The context of the sub-thread was basic healthcare, such as check-ups and immunizations.  Your comment whether you meant it to or not asserted that a five minute delay could cause loss of life.  I doubt 5 minutes makes any difference in the context we were discussing.

      You're being a baby, and it's showing.  You personal attacks are off topic, not my showing how silly your points are.  

    Parent

    Not quite (none / 0) (#31)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:33:34 PM EST
    As I had said before there is nothing to prevent the parents in question from applying for medicaid for the child.  

    Well, nothing overt. When people live in a state of anxiety over the whole immigration issue, they simply do not seek appropriate medical care. Instead of educating these people to the above alternatives, we intimidate them with newspaper articles and racist housing laws. In the end the costs are higher for US.

    This all (none / 0) (#33)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:46:41 PM EST
    comes around to not being an issue of access to care. It is a matter of intimidating and scaring these parents into believing that if they go to a doctor for ANYTHING they may get deported, irregardless of whether they can get coverage for the child or not. This is the problem here. Maybe WE know the system, but they surely do not, unless we can educate them. Educating them makes the children healthier and saves the system money. But marginalizing them is more fulfilling to some.

    Run and gun redux (none / 0) (#34)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:50:14 PM EST
    Wow. Honestly, that's some mierda loco, man.
    Ah well...hasta lumbago.

    Gun and run!


    Redux part deux (none / 0) (#38)
    by Patrick on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 06:03:42 PM EST
    Gun and run!

    Well, it's smarter than beating your head against the brick wall you've shown yourself to be

    Parent

    Reshaping the article (none / 0) (#40)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 09:45:04 PM EST
    Patrick says:

    The context of the sub-thread was basic healthcare, such as check-ups and immunizations.

    The Article says:

    Hospitals are just now catching up with the law's demands and doctors are justifiably outraged:

    Hospitals do not provide basic medical services. They are tertiary care sites. Sorry that the article doesn't fit your "context".


    I've heard of (none / 0) (#41)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 09:47:04 PM EST
    a thread. What is a sub thread?

    Yes (none / 0) (#42)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 09:54:59 PM EST
    a brick wall...

    to protect my patients, and the healthcare system, from racism.