About 75 Million U.S. Residents Lacked Insurance Coverage for At Least Part of 2001, 2002 ; -AND- Senators Propose Aid for Emergency Care for Undocumented Immigrants
CAL/AAEM News Service
pottsbri@yahoo.com
Sat, 15 Mar 2003 16:06:48 -0800 (PST)
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-----Original Message-----
From: California Healthline [mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM]
Senators Propose Aid for Emergency Care for Undocumented Immigrants
03/05/2003
A bipartisan group of senators and representatives yesterday proposed legislation that would give states providing a large amount of uncompensated care to undocumented immigrants $1.45 billion in aid each year over five years, the http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03052003/nation_w/35245.asp?display=print AP/Salt Lake Tribune reports (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5). Hospitals are required by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to treat all patients requiring emergency care, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. Providing care to undocumented immigrants costs about $1.45 billion per year, the <http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030305-216748.htm> Washington Times reports. A U.S.-Mexico Border Counties <http://www.bordercounties.org/> Coalition study of 24 U.S. counties along the Mexico border estimated that the hospitals' costs for providing care to undocumented immigrants exceeded $200 million a year. Further, the study says that one of every four dollars o!
f uncompensated care costs can be attributed to treating undocumented immigrants. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), chair of the Senate Finance Health Subcommittee and a bill sponsor, said, "Due in part to these extraordinary costs, many Arizona hospitals face serious financial difficulties, some have cut back services, and state residents have seen longer lines and fewer doctors to care for them." According to Kyl, hospitals and other providers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas are the most impacted by uncompensated care costs from treating undocumented immigrants (Seper, Washington Times, 3/5).
Allocations
Under the proposed legislation, communities and hospitals in California would receive $422 million, Texas would receive $286 million, Arizona would be given $235 million, New York would receive $71 million and other states would receive less aid, down to $1 million for states with few undocumented immigrants, such as Delaware and Alaska (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5). Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) has introduced a companion bill in the House. Supporters of the legislation include Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), John McCain (R-Ariz.), as well as Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.), Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) and John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) (Washington Times, 3/5). The National Association <http://www.naco.org/index.cfm> of Counties formally endorsed the legislation yesterday, saying that counties "shouldn't have to bear the costs for the federal !
government's failure to patrol the borders," AP/Salt Lake Tribune reports (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5).
==================================
-----Original Message-----
From: California Healthline [mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM]
About 75 Million U.S. Residents Lacked Insurance Coverage for At Least Part of 2001, 2002
03/05/2003
An estimated 75 million U.S. residents, about one-third of those younger than age 65, lacked health insurance for at least part of the past two years, according to a study released today, the <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/05/national/05UNIN.html> New York Times reports. The study -- prepared by Families USA <http://www.familiesusa.org/> for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation <http://www.rwjf.org/> as part of "Cover the Uninsured Week," which begins March 10 -- used data collected by the Census Bureau to determine the number of individuals who lacked health insurance for part of 2001 or 2002; the Census Bureau last year estimated that about 41 million U.S. residents lacked coverage for the entire year of 2001. The study released today found that about 74.7 million U.S. residents lacked health insurance for part of the past two years. About 25% lacked health insurance for the entire 24 months, and about 25% lacked coverage for three to five months; about 10% lacked coverage !
for two months or less, the study found. In addition, the study found that more than 50% of Hispanics younger than age 65 and 39% of blacks in the same age group lacked health insurance for part of the past two years (Toner, New York Times, 3/5). The study also found that about 80% of the 74.7 million U.S. residents who lacked health insurance for part of the past two years had jobs or had at least one parent with a job.
California Has Most Uninsured
Among states, California had the most uninsured residents, with 11.1 million, the study found (Kemper, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-uninsure5mar05,1,2371142.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dnation Los Angeles Times, 3/5). The economic downturn, increased health care costs and reductions in benefits in public health insurance programs such as Medicaid have contributed to the rise in the number of uninsured, AP/Long Island http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_health10mar05,0,756596.story?coll=sns%2Dhealth%2Dheadlines Newsday reports (Meckler, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/5). Last year, 26 states reduced Medicaid benefits, and 42 states said that they plan make reductions this year. "The uninsured problem is no longer an issue of altruism for other people. Now it is an issue of self interest for us all," Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack said (Los Angeles Times, 3/5). The study is available online <http://www.familiesusa.org/Going%20without%20repo!
rt.pdf> . Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this report.
=======================
Brian Potts
Managing Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service
MS-IV, UC-Irvine
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<P>-----Original Message-----</P>
<P>From: California Healthline [</FONT><A href="mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>] </P>
<P>Senators Propose Aid for Emergency Care for Undocumented Immigrants </P>
<P>03/05/2003 </P>
<P>A bipartisan group of senators and representatives yesterday proposed legislation that would give states providing a large amount of uncompensated care to undocumented immigrants $1.45 billion in aid each year over five years, the </FONT><A href="http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03052003/nation_w/35245.asp?display=prin"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><A href="http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03052003/nation_w/35245.asp?display=print">http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03052003/nation_w/35245.asp?display=prin</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>t</A> AP/Salt Lake Tribune reports (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5). Hospitals are required by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to treat all patients requiring emergency care, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. Providing care to undocumented immigrants costs about $1.45 billion per year, the <</FONT><A href="http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030305-216748.htm"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.washtimes.com/nation!
al/20030305-216748.htm</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> Washington Times reports. A U.S.-Mexico Border Counties <</FONT><A href="http://www.bordercounties.org/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.bordercounties.org/</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> Coalition study of 24 U.S. counties along the Mexico border estimated that the hospitals' costs for providing care to undocumented immigrants exceeded $200 million a year. Further, the study says that one of every four dollars of uncompensated care costs can be attributed to treating undocumented immigrants. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), chair of the Senate Finance Health Subcommittee and a bill sponsor, said, "Due in part to these extraordinary costs, many Arizona hospitals face serious financial difficulties, some have cut back services, and state residents have seen longer lines and fewer doctors to care for them." According to Kyl, hospitals and other providers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas are the most impacte!
d by uncompensated care costs from treating undocumented immigrants (Seper, Washington Times, 3/5). </P>
<P>Allocations </P>
<P>Under the proposed legislation, communities and hospitals in California would receive $422 million, Texas would receive $286 million, Arizona would be given $235 million, New York would receive $71 million and other states would receive less aid, down to $1 million for states with few undocumented immigrants, such as Delaware and Alaska (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5). Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) has introduced a companion bill in the House. Supporters of the legislation include Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), John McCain (R-Ariz.), as well as Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.), Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) and John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) (Washington Times, 3/5). The National Association <</FONT><A href="http://www.naco.org/index.cfm"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.naco.org/index.cfm</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> of Counties fo!
rmally endorsed the legislation yesterday, saying that counties "shouldn't have to bear the costs for the federal government's failure to patrol the borders," AP/Salt Lake Tribune reports (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 3/5). </P>
<P>==================================</P><FONT size=2>
<P>-----Original Message-----</P>
<P>From: California Healthline [</FONT><A href="mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>mailto:CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE@ADVISORY.COM</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>] </P>
<P>About 75 Million U.S. Residents Lacked Insurance Coverage for At Least Part of 2001, 2002 </P>
<P>03/05/2003 </P>
<P>An estimated 75 million U.S. residents, about one-third of those younger than age 65, lacked health insurance for at least part of the past two years, according to a study released today, the <</FONT><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/05/national/05UNIN.html"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/05/national/05UNIN.html</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> New York Times reports. The study -- prepared by Families USA <</FONT><A href="http://www.familiesusa.org/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.familiesusa.org/</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation <</FONT><A href="http://www.rwjf.org/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.rwjf.org/</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> as part of "Cover the Uninsured Week," which begins March 10 -- used data collected by the Census Bureau to determine the number of individuals who lacked health insurance for part of 2001 or 2002; the Census Bureau last year estimated !
that about 41 million U.S. residents lacked coverage for the entire year of 2001. The study released today found that about 74.7 million U.S. residents lacked health insurance for part of the past two years. About 25% lacked health insurance for the entire 24 months, and about 25% lacked coverage for three to five months; about 10% lacked coverage for two months or less, the study found. In addition, the study found that more than 50% of Hispanics younger than age 65 and 39% of blacks in the same age group lacked health insurance for part of the past two years (Toner, New York Times, 3/5). The study also found that about 80% of the 74.7 million U.S. residents who lacked health insurance for part of the past two years had jobs or had at least one parent with a job. </P>
<P>California Has Most Uninsured </P>
<P>Among states, California had the most uninsured residents, with 11.1 million, the study found (Kemper, </FONT><A href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-uninsure5mar05,1,2"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><A href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-uninsure5mar05,1,2371142.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dnation">http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-uninsure5mar05,1,2</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>371142.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dnation</A> Los Angeles Times, 3/5). The economic downturn, increased health care costs and reductions in benefits in public health insurance programs such as Medicaid have contributed to the rise in the number of uninsured, AP/Long Island </FONT><A href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_health10mar05,0,756596.story"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><A href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_health10mar05,0,756596.story?coll=sns%2Dhealth%2Dheadlines">http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-!
ap_health10mar05,0,756596.story</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>?coll=sns%2Dhealth%2Dheadlines</A> Newsday reports (Meckler, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/5). Last year, 26 states reduced Medicaid benefits, and 42 states said that they plan make reductions this year. "The uninsured problem is no longer an issue of altruism for other people. Now it is an issue of self interest for us all," Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack said (Los Angeles Times, 3/5). The study is available online <</FONT><A href="http://www.familiesusa.org/Going%20without%20report.pdf"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.familiesusa.org/Going%20without%20report.pdf</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>> . Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this report. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>=======================</P></FONT></FONT><BR><BR><STRONG>Brian Potts <BR>Managing Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service</STRONG> <BR>MS-IV, UC-Irvine<p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
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