Healthcare for undocumented immigrants

[takkatak]

I'm writing a paper on provision of healthcare to undocumented immigrants. I inquired if my hospital has any policy covering this population but aside from giving them emergency care as required by EMTALA, we have nothing else. Does anyone have had any experience with providing care to this population? If so, what challenges were presented? Do you know of any hospital/state policies in place for providing care to undocumented immigrants? Any information would be much appreciated.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

What a effing ignorant thing to say. I was about to say "Go back to Texas" on a hunch. And then I looked at where you are from. Lo and behold! If you want to debate our immigration policy or the legalities of undocumented immigrants, do it in another thread.

Basic healthcare is not a reward.

I seriously wish I could like this post a couple of hundred times.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We get a lot of bad trauma cases and I will tell that the most commonly seen pt is a young man, usually mid 20s, that still lives at home, no insurance, has wrecked mommy's car, that has no insurance b/c he got in a fight with ___. They stay for weeks for $$$$$$$$. The population that I see that might be undocumented are usually workman's comp-type injuries and they are out of the hosp sooner rather than later. Way less of a financial burden than the kid that lives at home and puts more of a financial strain on the the system.

[NanikRN]

Challenges are getting them illegal aliens to pay the bills. In my area we have two public hospitals that are funded by property tax, Parkland and JPS they have taken full advantage of free medical.

They go to the emergency room for colds and take full advantage of having a baby in these hospitals...

What a horrible judgemental offensive post!

I work in same area as you - in one of the larger hospitals in this area. We get our fair share of undocumented immigrants and we dont treat them any differently.

And i can promise you that undocumented immigrants are not the only ones that use parkland/JPS for those reasons nor is that population the only one that doesnt pay the hospital bill!

And by the way, I AM from Texas.

[Dranger]

Eh my hospital is pretty much 100% Medicaid or Medicare, so it is no better or worse than illegals coming into the ED. Either way I am paying for it out of my taxes.

People who don't believe it is an issue are the same ones who think the majority of the European migrant influx are Syrian and with families....LOL

[klone, MSN, RN]

My apologies to anyone from Texas whom I offended with my comment. I do know that not everyone who lives there has bass-ackwards opinions, and that bass-ackwards opinions can be found in all other states as well. I said it completely in anger and I apologize.