Medicaid hurdle for illegals

[Bubba]

At least some of the free handouts might slow down or stop!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/us...gewanted=print

WASHINGTON, April 15 — More than 50 million Medicaid recipients will soon have to produce birth certificates, passports or other documents to prove that they are United States citizens, and everyone who applies for coverage after June 30 will have to show similar documents under a new federal law.

The requirement is meant to stop the "theft of Medicaid benefits by illegal aliens," in the words of Representative Charlie Norwood, Republican of Georgia, a principal author of the provision, which was signed into law by President Bush on Feb. 8.

In enforcing the new requirement, federal and state officials must take account of passions stirred by weeks of national debate over immigration policy. State officials worry that many blacks, American Indians and other poor people will be unable to come up with the documents needed to prove citizenship. In addition, hospital executives said they were concerned that the law could increase their costs, by reducing the number of patients with insurance.

The new requirement takes effect on July 1. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will save the federal government $220 million over five years and $735 million over 10 years.

[Highwayman]

State officials worry that many blacks, American Indians and other poor people will be unable to come up with the documents needed to prove citizenship.

I wonder how many folks will really be affected by this. One would think with all the databases being kept nowadays that something like that could be straightened out.

[lurker]

I smell economic opportunity!
Mayhaps our local "Citizens for Economic Development" organization will can recruit the HP Journal to print some identification kits for those who lost theirs.

[K C Muffin]

Well, I'll prolly be the first one to compalin about having to search for the documentation, but if it saves just $1 from going to an illegal resident, then I'll do it.

[hoarsewhisperer]

Currently Medicaid (and TANF/Food Stamp) programs do not require verification (hard copy) of social security numbers OR ANY number for that matter.... OR Birth verifications of minor children claimed as US citizens until the age of 1. After age 1, no proof is required....just [A] number suffices until Social Security notifies them that is an invalid number.

Since these are Federal Programs I'd say that potentially creates room for a lot of fraud issued benefits.

[lurker]

State officials worry that many blacks, American Indians and other poor people will be unable to come up with the documents needed to prove citizenship.

Those state officials aren't worried about their blacks, their American Indians and their other poor people. They're worried about a reduction in "services" that should lead to a reduction in their bureacuracy.

However, I'm sure another bureacuracy could be created to provide the blacks, the American Indians and the other poor people with 'necessary' documents....

No shit, that's already been done? Welp, perhaps a Department of Documents department could be created with the leftover public servants.

Or those worried State Officials could transpose their worrying into actions that empower their blacks, their American Indians and their other poor people into taking care of themselves and off the public's tiddies.

[TexKan]

Well that won't slow the Mediciad down for all the "children" born here by parents that shuolda been in another country. As for the leagals......... I'm sure they won't have as big a problem proving US citizenship as lots of folks like to think. I believe they are afraid they will lose thier Federal $$ that gives them a job and pays the bills for thier "program" that usually ONLY caters to non US citizens. I'm glad this is going into affect and I pray to God those that aren't citizens get cut off at the kahunas......... bout time this nonsense stopped. Course I also see a new surge in fake birth certificates too..... that's the next thing we will see at the flea market..............

[lurker]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Well that won't slow the Mediciad down for all the "children" born here by parents that shuolda been in another country. As for the leagals.........


.............

Another area where US Citizen's are devalued is what's called a "marriage of convenience" where a US Citizen marries a non-citizen and wants to bring her home..... Welp, NO CAN DO until the US Citizen proves everlasting love and devotion.

We should classify most of their babies as "births of convenience" and disallow citizenship until the parents become naturalized, too.

[TexKan]

Gee Lurker you are one stylin fool in those hats......... so wha's under the 10 gallon stetson big boy?????????........ LOL

Lots of US citizens do marry non US citizens. Had a woman from Canada in my clinic for shots last week. She's been here for probably 5 years but with all the hoo ra ra.......... they felt she should apply for her citizenship.......... she came over to work after college grad, met a Texas boy....... the rest is history.......... She did enter leagally tho.........

I was referring to the children that are born on US soil to non US parents. There are women that do a border crossing in labor just to deliver to us (US) the next little picket protestor......... of course she shows up with no prenatal, no MD, no translator, no insurance and no plan to pay.. ..... ever..............she just wants the baby to be a US citizen which they automatically are........... stupid, stupid, stupid. In Laredo they are talking about haveing "neutral" floors for non US mothers that do this BS. So the litle bambinos wouldnt' be US citizens......... then the next day they all go packin back to mexico.......... I can't believe you are a US citizen just cause your momma crossed her legs long enough to smuggle her preg ass in the US and we as taxpayors are pickin up the bill for the fact that she didn't cross her legs when she should have................. just pisses me off....... I love babies don't get me wrong and it's not thier fault......... but I do feel it's Mexico's child not ours............. we got enough of our own to pay for....... don't need Fox's poor over here helpin themselves to the medical that is intended for our own drug addicted, abuseed, mentally ill, prostitutin &/or homeless females that just wanna populate / perpetuate the welfare system................ geesh............

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by lurker

...We should classify most of their babies as "births of convenience" and disallow citizenship until the parents become naturalized, too.

I really like that idea! Just having a child born in the US doesn't make it a US citizen, making the citizenship conditional to if/when the parents become naturalized citizens. Maybe we should all get on the bandwagon and email our Senators and Representatives with this idea.