Reference no: EM131467280

Medicare for Undocumented Aliens

Discuss your thoughts about this legislation. Do you think it is fair? Should this money only go to those who have paid into the Medicare system - and not to people from outside the country who have not paid? Is this fair to citizens who do not have health insurance?

Argue and defend your position using examples.

Federal Regulation on Medicare Services for Undocumented Aliens.

Section 1011, Federal Reimbursement of Emergency Health Services Furnished to Undocumented Aliens, provides $250 million per year for fiscal years (FY) 2005-2008 for payments to eligible providers for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens and other specified aliens.

Two-thirds of the funds will be divided among all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their relative percentages of undocumented aliens. One-third will be divided among the six states with the largest number of undocumented alien apprehensions.

From the respective state allotments, payments will be made directly to hospitals, certain physicians, and ambulance providers for some or all of the costs of providing emergency health care required under Section 1867 and related hospital inpatient, outpatient and ambulance services to eligible individuals.

Eligible providers may include an Indian Health Service facility whether operated by the Indian Health Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization. A Medicare critical access hospital (CAH) is also a hospital under the statutory definition.

Payments under Section 1011 may only be made to the extent that care was not otherwise reimbursed (through insurance or otherwise) for such services during that fiscal year.

Payments may be made for services furnished to certain individuals described in the statute as:

1) undocumented aliens;

2) aliens who have been paroled into the United States at a United States port of entry for the purpose of receiving eligible services; and

3) Mexican citizens permitted to enter the United States for not more than 72 hours under the authority of a biometric machine readable border crossing identification card (also referred to as a "laser visa") issued in accordance with the requirements of regulations prescribed under a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Reference

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.