The managers do not intend that the exception for testing and treatment for communicable diseases should include treatment for the HIV virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. I represent a State where we have many persons who come from areas of the worldmany within this hemispherewhich have a high incidence of HIV and AIDS. What this bill says is if a person is in this country as assailees. refugees. parolees. or whatever status. is found to have HIV or AIDS. the Federal public health service cannot use its resources to treat those persons. Mr. President. I find this to be unbelievable. Are we just going to ignore this deadly disease and hope that. for humanitarian reasons. or public health concerns. the State or local agency will again shoulder this national obligation for persons who are in this country under national immigration laws? The Medicaid provisions. the deeming provisions. and sponsor affidavits are currently nothing more than a means of shifting costs to States. local government agencies. and our Nations hospital system. Simply. if people are sick and cannot afford to pay for coverage of a disabling condition. somebody will absorb those costs.
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refugees immigration