Rising health care costs put focus on illegal immigrants - USATODAY.com

Juan Perez had stomach pains for a month before deciding to visit a health clinic here that is open Thursday nights so migrant farmworkers don't miss a day working in the fields.

As an illegal, uninsured immigrant, Perez has had problems in the past — not only with his health, but with navigating the U.S. health care maze. In Michigan, there was no interpreter at his local health clinic, the bills had to be paid in installments, and co-workers warned that a visit to a doctor could lead to deportation. In North Carolina, he's found a health care home at Tiffany Revels' weekly clinic — providing he can hitch a ride there.

"The biggest concern is getting sick, because you don't have anyone here," Perez says after Revels, a family nurse practitioner at the federally funded clinic, prescribes two antibiotics and Pepto-Bismol tablets for his bacterial gastritis. "You are here by yourself."

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Protestors fight immigrant exclusion in health bill - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

While lawmakers Monday hammered out differences on health care legislation in the Statehouse, supporters rallied outside -- throwing a last minute glitch into the works. They want illegal workers covered under the plan. But that could put the state at odds with the federal government.

In the final legislative days, single payer advocates rallied, speaking for people not here -- foreign workers in Vermont illegally.

"To me universal means universal and those without status should be covered," said Robert Appel with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

There are an estimated 2000 workers without documents in Vermont. Many work on dairy farms. Without them, officials say the state's dairy industry would die, and advocates say these illegal workers should be given coverage under the state's move to a single payer health care plan, arguing it will avoid more costly emergency care later that people with insurance end up paying anyway.

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ACP Calls for National Strategy on Healthcare for Immigrants

A South Carolina bill that would make it illegal to transport undocumented persons to a hospital and other legislative efforts to deny medical services to immigrants have prompted calls from the American College of Physicians (ACP) for a national policy to override such state rules.

"We need to have some way to make sure everybody gets healthcare," said Virginia Hood, MD, president of the ACP and an internist with Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT. "There [are] all kinds of legislation and regulations coming out at the state level which could have an effect on the provision of healthcare for immigrants, and we think this isn't something that can be dealt with on a state-by-state basis. There needs to be a national strategy."

The South Carolina bill, she says, "would make it illegal to transport immigrants to a hospital anywhere."

Other legislation introduced in several other states, she says, would dictate that "before someone could be treated in an emergency room, or even after they're treated, immigration status should be documented or reported," she says. This inappropriately turns doctors and paramedics into immigration officials.

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Medical News: Arizona Mulls Checking Hospital Patients' Citizenship - in Public Health & Policy, Health Policy from MedPage Today

Arizona's state government is considering new legislation that would prevent hospitals from giving nonemergency treatment to suspected illegal immigrants.

Under Arizona Senate Bill 1405, nonemergency patients would have to show proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status before they could be admitted to hospitals in the state.

Patients without adequate documentation who need emergency care could still be treated, but hospital officials would be required to notify federal immigration officials after treatment was provided.

Hospitals would also have to notify the federal authorities about nonemergency patients denied care because of their lack of documentation.

The bill would stiffen what is already the nation's toughest -- and most controversial -- state law on illegal immigration. Last year, Arizona enacted legislation requiring police officers to check citizenship and immigration status of anyone they may suspect of being in the country illegally.

The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association condemned the bill, calling it "an undue burden" on hospitals as well as patients.

In a statement provided to MedPage Today, the group said the legislation "would result in a delayed hospital admissions process for all patients, including U.S. citizens."

Moreover, the group said, "all hospital patients would be required to carry documentation acceptable for citizenship verification, placing an undue burden on patients and possibly jeopardizing their care."

It's unclear whether the bill is popular enough to win passage.

It had appeared on the state Senate Judiciary Committee agenda for Monday. But according to the website Politico, it was pulled at the last minute when the bill's backers -- including Senate President Russell Pearce, who was among its co-sponsors -- decided they weren't going to win a vote.

But, the website reported, supporters may seek to bring it before other committees.

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