No. of Recommendations: 4
ERs can't ask immigration status or ability to pay. They just have to treat people. The ER is the most expensive way to get treatment, and if they can't pay then the taxpayers pay. It's cheaper to allow them to get treatment outside of an ER. Also, if someone has something communicable, it is more likely to be contained if they can get care before it becomes emergent.
I couldn't find the arguments and debates that CA had before doing this, so I'm just guessing that the above was part of the discussion.
Proper action by Congress would likely make this unnecessary by reducing the overall flow. THOSE are the discussions we need to be having. "Let them all in" and "keep them all out" is not realistic, and both are non-starters.
Cali has been unhappy for years with the ER problem. They even shut down one ER, or attempted to. Nevertheless, they have a budget shortfall now and I shake my head at it. But you actually do want to get semi decent health care to illegals. Our economy has evolved to being dependent on illegals. I realize that a portion of my retirement was generated by illegals in the workforce - directly or indirectly. The guys who come here to work for the farmers and send money home (for example)are absolutely necessary and that's been going on since before we born.
Tell 'em to fix it.
