Citizenship proof required for healthcare...slipped into Deficit bill.

[madfloridian]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/11/us_rule_demands_proof_of_citizenship_for_healthcare/

Born out of ongoing efforts in Washington to clamp down on illegal immigration, the new federal requirement compels anyone seeking Medicaid coverage to provide a birth certificate, a passport, or another form of identification in order to sign up for benefits or renew them. No such proof is required now.

The requirement was tucked into the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which President Bush signed into law earlier this year.

The measure was part of an effort to limit the skyrocketing growth of federal entitlement programs. It has surfaced as Massachusetts begins to implement its sweeping healthcare plan, which aims to bring health coverage to almost all of the state's uninsured, in part by enrolling those in Medicaid who are eligible but who have not signed up.

I can not believe this would happen in this country. Will affect the poorest among us.

[skooooo]

1. Republicans must want not want to get re-elected.

[DBoon]

6. unfortunately, noncitizens can't vote

this move has no political cost to them

[madfloridian]

2. To those who approve...let them be the one to deny health care.

Let them stand in front of this person from whom they withhold this medical care.

Let them answer to a higher power.

[Maat]

3. This is despicable!

Notice how they snuck it in; and it is clearly meant to punish not only the most vulnerable, our immigrants, but states such as California as well.

[madfloridian]

4. Starts in 3 months. Read the whole thing.

Mostly talking about MA, but applies to all states. How the hell did they get this through?

[Cobalt Violet]

9. No one reads bills anymore.

[TheDebbieDee]

5. For cryin' out loud........

It's cheaper to treat an undocumented worker that has something infectious than to allow them to go around spreading it all over the place because they're afraid of being turned-in by the clinic!

[MrBlueSky]

7. Now this is personal AND scary

As I indicated on Raw Story's blog, my wife and daughter, both legal immigrants, are on Medicaid.

They are Brazilians. My wife is on Pregnancy Medical and my daughter is on Children's Medicaid.

If they kick these 2 LEGAL immigrants off Medical Care... :nuke: :grr: :mad:

[madfloridian]

11. This makes me hurt so much. How did they do this?

Did our Democrats know? Was it one of the things they sneaked in during the night and didn't tell the Democrats.

I am so so sorry this is affecting you like this...it is so unChristian of this hypocritical bunch in DC.

[MrBlueSky]

18. Heartless

I only hope that the WA legislature will protect us.

[Cobalt Violet]

14. It sucks with out healtcare.

I should be universal for ALL, legal or not. I've been living without it for several years now, with an untreated illness. I'm getting sicker and sicker. There is left to do about it but die. I took me a while to accept this fact, but I have.

I hope your wife and child will be okay. This is one misery I don't want any company with.

[MrBlueSky]

16. Sorry

Sorry to hear about that. May your days be filled with love and peace... and full of life.

I am very sorry to hear about it Cobalt... I hope you get enrolled in the Universal Health Care in MA State... and in time to get better.

[Cobalt Violet]

20. That's the only hope I see.

And don't care that it may be a flawed plan.

[MrBlueSky]

27. Keep hope alive, Cobalt

And I'll keep you in my prayers.

[shanti]

29. that's what i want to know!

does this apply to LEGAL immigrants too??

[madfloridian]

8. Daily Kos has a front page post up about this.

From Susan G

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/11/18159/5800

Three points:

1. From a purely selfish public health point of view, is it really a good idea to deny diagnosis and treatment to 12 million people ... ever? But particularly when there are concerns about a pandemic? This should make going to the supermarket a total crap shoot for the rest of us, yes?

2. Attention! All you Christianists who want to embed the Bible in the Constitution! Embed Leviticus 19:33-34 in there while you're at it:


" 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

3. Hey! GOP! Quit sneaking (or "tucking") appalling shit into legislation under the dead of night. It's a tip-off that you're ashamed of the crap you're trying to pull and that a majority of Americans - who at heart a generous people - would not approve. If you think you have terrific ideas that will lead to the public strewing flowers and candy in your path, come out in the open and say so. If you think we need convincing, make your case and convince us. But you're looking like midnight cowards with these actions, and rightly so."

[eleny]

10. It was always a requirement for Medicaid eligibility

The declaration application didn't require applicants to provide verification at the time of application. This practice was instituted to cut down on the time it took to process an application. But it has always been an element of non-financial eligibility.

[madfloridian]

13. The article says no such proof required now.

"Born out of ongoing efforts in Washington to clamp down on illegal immigration, the new federal requirement compels anyone seeking Medicaid coverage to provide a birth certificate, a passport, or another form of identification in order to sign up for benefits or renew them.

No such proof is required now."

[MrBlueSky]

15. Some amount of documentation is required.

When my wife went on Pregnancy Medical, I had to provide a photocopy of her passport, SS Card and her Green Card.

When my daughter went on Children's Medicaid, I had to provide a copy of her birth certificate (and the English language translation) and her SS Card.

They accepted it then... but I fear that if it's not an AMERICAN passport or birth certificate, they will kick them off the programs.

[eleny]

21. "Proof" is the requirement to bring in the verification

For many years now, there has been a declarations system. People have not been required to bring in the verification of what they declare on their applications. This system was instituted to save time. It appears that Congress is now going to require the local agencies to require that proof of citizenship at the time of application.

Certain immigrants are also eligible. They are asked for proof of their status at the time of application.

You can check the Federal Register. Here's a link to rules that are clear.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidEligibility/02_AreYouEligible_.asp#TopOfPage

Citizenship is not a new requirement of eligibility. Requiring proof in the near future will reflect a tightening of the local agency application procedure.

[madfloridian]

22. Then tell the Boston Globe. I posted their article.

I am not trying to argue. I am posting what they said.

It should not have been slipped into the Deficit Reduction bill at all.

If you say it is fine, then I guess you are right. You sound like an authority. You need to talk to the Boston Globe.

[eleny]

30. I'm not trying to argue, either. Just clarifying

I don't think the Globe is wrong if they say "proof" will be required. It's just that people posting here in the thread sounded to me like they thought that citizenship was a new requirement. I hoped to clarify what the regulations are for eligibility and what's required at the time someone makes an application.

Yes, I worked for different social service agencies at the local and state level for many years, 1971-1999. I know that a few items do require proof at application. Here in Colorado the application is online and you can see what proofs are currently required on this web page. See the right hand column. Only an INS card is required if it applies to the applicant. http://www.chcpf.state.co.us/HCPF/Pdf_Bin/CHP%20English%20Application%20Final.pdf

[madfloridian]

32. They are getting serious about depriving people of healthcare.

You are probably right on this, and the Globe may have it wrong. But the Kos post reads it that way as well.

Bottom line....they are heartless and planning to keep people who are already in our country from getting medical care.

[eleny]

38. If the people in the country aren't citizens -

They have always only been eligible for emergency services. If that's going to change, then I believe it will fall on its face. The first time an illegal alien woman dies outside of a hospital while in childbirth, the poop will hit the fan. This should never happen. And politicians are smarter than that. If anything, they're strong on self preservation.

Btw, Congress is great at passing laws and then dumping the non reimbursed requirements onto the states. I believe that this requirement will collapse under the weight of its hideousness. It's good that the issue has come to the public scrutiny like this.

It appears that the article only talks about the "proof" requirement at the time of application. The citizenship or legal alien eligibility requirement has always been in place.

[mtnester]

12. Yet, hospitals still, by law, cannot refuse to treat you based on your

ability to pay.

So, since the bulk of medical care is being performed in emergency rooms due to MANY people not being able to pay, this will probably be a moot point.

[elehhhhna]

17. Papier, bitte?

[MrBlueSky]

19. Can someone kick this to the front page?

I think this issue deserves the attention of everyone.

[BlooInBloo]

23. Sheesh. Shortsighted people... This affects EVERYONE....

For god's sakes - imagine 12 million sick people with bird flu or whatnot - how long do you think it'll be before legal residents get sick? Hello? Grocery stores? Restrooms?

This doesn't just affect "the poorest among us" - THIS IS AN ASSAULT AGAINST THE ENTIRE NATION - and it's all just because large segements of the American public want nothing more than to be mean.

Americans deserve the result of their meanness.

EDIT: spelling.

[SoCalDem]

24. Bear this in mind though..

Harry Truman HAD a national health care plan in the works, but he never got it done.. Johnson's Great Society was supposed to have had one as well, but Viet Nam ruined any chance of it happening..

HAD either one of those presidents (both democrats) actually gotten a national health care system in place, proof of citizenship/eligibility WOULD have been a part of it.

European & Canadian health care REQUIRE an ID card to avail oneself of the services, and I'm pretty sure that to GET a card, you must first prove you are a citizen (eligible)..

No matter what form a future plan takes, I'm sure there will be a provision for emergency/indigent-non-citizen/tourist care as well.. I can't see us allowing people to be turned away completely.

It may mean that only certain places will accept that kind of patient.. Those of you who are young don't remember, but there USED to be true non-profit/mercy/charity hospitals all over the place.. They were usually run by religious orders..

It DOES aggravate me that our country seems to always put the horse before the cart, though..

National health care system FIRST...then ID cards...or perhaps simultaneously..

[madfloridian]

25. My fear is that is will lead to withholding of medical care...

well, actually it will. These people are here already. We can make laws about future immigrants, whatever everyone wants to do....but you do not deprive another human being of healthcare.

And actually that is what this is leading up to.

I have no objection to people being legal...oh never mind. Explaining does no good.

Bottom line, this will keep people from getting care. If we don't care what have we become.

We did not stop these immigrants from coming, and we can not let them be deprived of human needs now that they are here.

[Cleita]

31. Do you remember the case of the homeless man who

struggled to the emergency room of a Tenant hospital
because he was dying and they turned him away because he didn't have coverage? I think this was about fifteen years ago. They told him to go to the county hospital which was miles away and they found him dead on the front lawn of the hospital. That was as far as he got.

There was some legislation passed back then about not turning people away from emergency rooms because of this. Are we going back to this hellish way of not taking care of those who need medical care?

[madfloridian]

35. That is what it looks like to me. ERs are packed with sick people...

all the time because they can't get care from doctors for lack of insurance. The hospital here is in bad shape because so many have to wait until they are nearly dying to get care.

That is why I got so pissed the other day when I was attacked for saying we needed health care first and then worry about national security posturing.

[Cleita]

26. I dunno. I'm truly amazed at my fellow Americans

and they don't make me proud.

[MrBlueSky]

36. Heard that Cleita!

I doubt if kicking people off of Medical Assistance is what Jesus had in mind when He said to "feed my sheep."

I could be wrong though.

[BlooInBloo]

39. Leviticus is as good...

" 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/11/18159/5800

Good to see so many good christianists on DU....

[shanti]

28. so does this mean...

that if you are not an american citizen (but have a passport from another country), and get sick enough to go to a hospital, you are not covered?

just want to clarify this...

[madfloridian]

33. I just plain don't know.

There are differing opinions. I read it as heartless.

[BrightKnight]

34. Millions of exploited immigrant workers should suffer and die.

:sarcasm:

[Fleshdancer]

37. This goes against the Hippocratic oath

What kind of doctor would follow such an unethical law?

[killbotfactory]

45. The ones that vote Republican?

[Fleshdancer]

47. I would hope their life calling went above politics

obviously I'm hoping for the best but yes, even Republican doctors. :shrug:

[mzmolly]

40. Horrible. WE need to strengthen and expand national health care.

As I've said, with Bush calling for a guest worker program, let's hand him one with a national health care plan attached.

[helderheid]

41. now is it an AMERICAN birth certificate, passport, etc? My husband pays

for medicade and is not an American citizen. Are we sure that they are requiring proof of American citizenship?

[madfloridian]

42. Varying opinions in this thread. I just don't know.

I was quoting the Boston Globe article only, and I have no other knowledge. There is a thread on the front page of Kos on this...SusanG's post.

The first 4 paragraphs make it sound like proof of citizenship. I am just not knowledgeable on it beyond the article and the Kos post.

I am very upset about this, and I think we should have the Globe or someone clarify. I guess it wouldn't help to ask our congress folks, as they might not know either anymore.

If I found out anything beyond the article I will post. I have called a couple of people, and they don't know anymore than I do.

You bring up a good point, it could be other citizenship. Never thought of that.

[AFFIRM]

43. Not quite sure how I feel on this one

I must admit, it would be nice if we could go to Canada when we get pregnant as health care is free to its citizens. Guess what? We cant do that can we? Dont get me wrong though ... I am not against Mexicans being here. I just want them to pay taxes like I do.

P.S. Before we jump on the bandwagon about this issue, lets remember one thing. They are NOT denying aid to any U.S. Citizen. Am I correct?

[killbotfactory]

44. Screw the hippocratic oath!

Let's just create a permenent underclass of sickly disease breeding people.

[nonconformist]

46. That's weird - that's it's not required now, that is

Maybe it's a state thing, I don't know. But my children have, in the past, received Medicaid and required their birth certificates to sign up.

In any event, I don't think any human being should be denied the basics of healthcare, and I'm not one bit surprised they "slipped" this into another bill.

[AFFIRM]

48. OK you started it

If no human should be without healthcare then why is it I have none. You see the state says I make too much. I am a single dad making $1500/month. Yet we have illegal aliens here gobbling up free health insurance. Somehow there is something very wrong with this picture. I agree with you ... no one should go without coverage. However, lets fix our own system first before we give it to others who don't belong here.