Speech #990218466

Incidences of death from curable diseases such as polio. diptheria. and tuberculosis coupled with environmental and agricultural pollution. and a general lack of knowledge in terms of proper preventive health care have led to an exacerbation of an already great problemindigent health care. Our proximity to the border and the differences in health care perspectives have caused health care facilities along the border to carry a burden which must be addressed by the Pederal Government. The indigent health care problem is further complicated by the problem presented in the treatment of undocumented aliens. Mr. Speaker. my bill is not the solution to the array of problems that plague our borderlands. It is. however. a partial solution to a taxing and urgent problem that is currently hampering the quality of health care access and delivery that both facilities and providers are facing. Every day thousands of indigent undocumented patients enter emergency rooms requiring immediate medical attention. Questions of immigration and financial capabilities should take a back seat when life or death situations present themselves. and it is the duty of each health care provider. facility or physician. to care for the patient. This determination to provide the best health care possible is seriously diluted when remuneration is slow. inadequate. or nonexistent. My bill provides for 100percent remuneration for the health care facility and the attending physician that provides care to the indigent. undocumented alien patient in an emergency situation and charges a reasonable fee. This stopgap measure will help ease the financial burden that many health care providers are facing and allow them to continue to treat those individuals that are In need of emergency care. be they undocumented aliens or citizens in desperate need of help. A measure such as this is beneficial to all parties concerned because it provides the necessary financial backing that health care providers need to continue their services. and it relieves the State and local governments from carrying a burden that should have been carried by the Federal Government. Undocumented aliens reside in our country as a result of the Federal Governments failure to enforce its laws. the troublesome economic and social atmosphere that emigrating countries are experiencing and the demand for labor by American industry. These people should receive medical care when emergency situations arise. but it is unfair to make the State and local governments bear the costs of these uncontrollable variables. The Federal Government must begin to accept the responsibility. State and local governments. and the health care providers along the border feel neglected and ignored when the Federal Government makes attempts to enact new health care legislation. Oftentimes. new initatives fail to address indigent health care needs even though this problem exists in an important and growing region of the country. My bill brings to the forefront the needs of the people of this region and compels the Federal Government to assume its role in the growing national problem of indigent health care when the complicating factor of undocumented aliens and their health care needs are added. The Federal Government needs to address rising health care costs that make it impossible for people to pay for medical care and preventive medicine. Mr. Speaker. this country has nearly 30 million medically indigent persons that are the direct responsibility of the Federal Government. The financial burden that they place on the State and local governments is becoming incalculable. This amendment is the first step in a long path toward assumption of responsibility for the medically indigent of our country and is necessary in order to support the border health care providers who are facing a crisis in access and delivery because of the excessive indigent and undocumented health care burden.