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| County proposes to cut health care for illegal immigrants |
| By Matt O'Brien - Contra Costa Times |
| Published: 03/04/2009 |
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Hoping to save a strained medical system $6 million a year, Contra Costa County health officials announced a plan this week to exclude adult illegal immigrants from primary care services. About 5,500 undocumented adult immigrants are now eligible users of the county's Basic Health Care Program, which serves low-income residents who cannot obtain any other health insurance. A plan presented to the board of supervisors would make nonurgent county care inaccessible to illegal immigrants, with the exception of children and pregnant women. Also on the proposed chopping block is a $2.6 million program providing health care for inmates of the West County Jail in San Jose, CA - Richmond and other health services around the county for a total of about $13.5 million. Supervisors are scheduled to vote on the cuts March 17. "The county doesn't have the money anymore," said William Walker, the county's health director. If supervisors approve the plan, the county hospital system would become the second in the state this year to eliminate services for undocumented patients. Last month, Sacramento County supervisors voted to shut off nonurgent care for illegal immigrants in an effort to save $2.4 million. Walker said Contra Costa would save more than Sacramento did because the clinic system for indigent patients is more extensive here, with 10 clinic locations across the region. The county would continue to provide primary care for children younger than 19 and also provide coverage for emergencies, pregnancies and certain other conditions, including tuberculosis and breast cancer. Walker made the announcement Monday, attracting immediate concern from local health leaders. "We don't think it's good public policy," said Tanir Ami, executive director of the Community Clinic Consortium for Contra Costa and Solano counties. "People stay healthier when their health care is managed." Ami, whose private clinics are separate from the county system, said supervisors should consider the long-term consequences of the cuts. "We think we're about to see 5,500 more patients," she said. "We're not going to be turning anyone away, but there may be wait times. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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