SOUTHERN ARIZONA HOSPITALS FEELING FINANCIAL PINCH OF TREATING MIGRANTS

Hospitals in southern Arizona have lost more than $12.5 million treating migrants injured in attempted border crossings since January 1999.  While public hospitals are required by law to provide emergency treatment to patients regardless of their right to pay, there are no provisions for the hospitals to be compensated for treating these migrants.  This is because the Border Patrol is responsible for the cost of medical treatment only if they injured the person or if they had taken the person into custody before taking them to the hospital.

Many hospitals claim that the Border Patrol is avoiding the costs of medical treatment by simply not arresting migrants that need medical treatment and instead leaving them at the hospital.  The Border Patrol says that cost avoidance is not part of their policy, but does admit that it has in the past.  According to the chief of the Border Patrol Tucson sector, agents do attend to a person’s injuries before determining a person’s status in the US, not because of cost issues but because of humanitarian concerns.

As the Border Patrol’s strategy on the southwest border has changed, pressures on Arizona hospitals have increased.  More and more migrants are attempting to cross in Arizona, resulting in more migrant patients in the hospitals.  During the last fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2000, more that 1,300 migrants were found in medical distress in southern Arizona, the most ever.

There have been discussions between Border Patrol and hospital representatives on how to come up with a possible solution.  One of the most likely solutions would be federal grants to the hospitals.  A bill to provide them $25 million was proposed in this last legislative session, but it will not be addressed before the election.  However, if the pressure of treating migrants continues, it is certain a similar bill will be proposed in the future.

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