Your morning jolt: Grady hospital to provide end-stage dialysis for 38 illegal immigrants
Grady Memorial Hospital has just ratcheted up the national debate over illegal immigration by several notches. From this morning’s New York Times:
Thirty-eight end-stage renal patients, most of them illegal immigrants, would receive the dialysis they need to stay alive at no cost under a rough agreement brokered Tuesday among local dialysis providers and Atlanta’s safety-net hospital, Grady Memorial.
Dialysis patients, who were displaced last year when Grady Memorial Hospital closed its outpatient dialysis unit, gathered Sunday for a meeting at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. David Walter Banks/The New York Times
The deal, if completed, would end a yearlong impasse that has come to symbolize the health care plight of the country’s uninsured immigrants and the taxpayer-supported hospitals that end up caring for them. The problem remains unaddressed by the new health care law, which maintains the federal ban on government health insurance for illegal immigrants.
Grady, which receives direct appropriations from Fulton and DeKalb Counties, ultimately agreed on Tuesday to help pay for continuing dialysis for most of the immigrants. Others would be distributed among local dialysis providers as charity cases.
If you’re a preacher stuck for a Sunday sermon topic, look no further. You can’t make up a moral dilemma like this one.
***
Philadelphia Daily News writer Will Bunch has a new book out, entitled, “The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama.”
A major portion of the tome is devoted to our own U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens, whose comparisons of President Barack Obama to a certain historical figure with an odd moustache are well known to locals.
But Bunch has also found something new – an Oct. 17, 2009 speech to a group of John Birch Society members in which the newly elected congressman also expresses his suspicions about President Georg H.W. Bush.
An excerpt of Broun’s speech appeared Tuesday on Salon.com:
“They used to talk about global warming — y’all might remember a few years ago they were talking about an ice age was coming. It’s the same folks, the folks who want to change America, want to rule America. They want to change us to a New World Order.
“President George Herbert Walker Bush, remember, very openly said he wanted to have a New World Order. And all of these things are a progression of their outward efforts to destroy America, to destroy our freedom … The John Birch Society is trying very hard to get the right people elected to Congress. There are very few of us –very few.”
***
Republicans have spent tens of thousands of dollars to rid themselves of state Rep. Alan Powell, D-Hartwell, to no avail.
But Blake Aued of the Athens Banner-Herald says a new path has opened up:
One of Georgia’s last remaining rural Democrats says he might switch parties if Republican Nathan Deal becomes governor.
It’s not because state Rep. Alan Powell, D-Hartwell, is facing stiff opposition and might pull a reverse Arlen Spector. Republicans tried to take him down in 2006, failed miserably and haven’t bothered since. It’s also not because, like Deal and others before him, he now identifies more with the GOP.
“If Roy Barnes doesn’t win it in November, you can probably stick a fork in the Democratic movement, because we will not be able to come back for a generation or more,” Powell said in a phone conversation today.
If Barnes loses, Powell said he would “seriously consider” switching parties because Democrats would not only have no influence, but no hope regaining power. He also said he thinks he could halt the Republicans’ drift to the right and bring it back toward the middle.
***
Over at the Savannah Morning News, Larry Peterson offers evidence of why legislative bodies aren’t eager to open up tax codes for complete rewrites. About 30 speakers showed up Tuesday to give the special council on tax reform – holding meetings across the state – a piece of their many minds:
Many speakers sought to keep sales tax exemptions that benefit them and, they also said, create or preserve jobs.
Two people called for raising the sales tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack, which they said would raise $400 million a year and improve public health.
A proposal by state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, to impose such an increase has been stymied by the legislature’s anti-tax GOP leadership.
“When state and local governments … are looking for new revenue,” said Paula Kreissler, representing Healthy Savannah, “this is a no-brainer.”
But Frazier noted the proposal was opposed by convenience store owners at the panel’s hearing Monday in Augusta.
In border areas, owners said, it would encourage purchases of cigarettes in neighboring states with lower taxes.
Chatham County Commission Chairman Pete Liakakis said the current system of sharing utility franchise fee revenues is unfair.
Although all utility customers pay franchise fees on their bills, he said, the revenue is shared only with cities, not with unincorporated areas.
“This is something we need to confront,” Frazier said.
Trip Tollison, of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, criticized part of a new transportation funding law.
It lets people in designated regions vote on whether to add a penny to their sales taxes to pay for transportation projects.
But Tollison said the measure also would impose “severe” transportation funding penalties on regions where voters reject the levies.
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85 comments Add your comment
Dustin Land
September 1st, 2010
9:09 am
Enter your comments here
ls
September 1st, 2010
9:18 am
The headline made me think Nathan Deal did this, and that he might be a nice guy. Misleading.
roughrider
September 1st, 2010
9:19 am
Don’t they have dialysis in Mexico ? These people need to be deported and let the Mexican government provide the dialysis, unless the Mexican government will pay for all expenses for them to be treated here.
lmno
September 1st, 2010
9:21 am
I agree that this would make an interesting Sunday Morning Service.
Aquagirl
September 1st, 2010
9:24 am
Hmmmmm….where are all these “life is sacred” Republicans when it comes to helping people who need dialysis? Where is Tom Coburn? These people could certainly follow a balloon with their eyes and have meaningful lives, unlike Terri Schiavo.
Parker
September 1st, 2010
9:24 am
@ls,
I thought the same thing. Galloway should fix the headline.
Shar
September 1st, 2010
9:30 am
Why did I have to read about this in the NY Times and not the AJC? And why is the Mexican Government not paying for this? There is a Mexican consulate here, which seems eager to jump into immigration cases. Why not health care?
Jim Galloway
September 1st, 2010
9:31 am
All right, all right. You’re right. I’ll fix the hed.
louise
September 1st, 2010
9:37 am
Is, I thought the same thing. Unfortunately, the Deal running for governor is still a hate monger, a crook, and a sleaze ball. He’s not a nice guy after all.
Larry M
September 1st, 2010
9:39 am
The health care “plight” of uninsured illegal aliens?!?!? How is this the taxpayers’ responsibility?
Instead of asking from where they will get dialysis, maybe the AJC should be asking, why haven’t they been deported yet? Obviously everyone is aware they are here illegally. How about one dialysis treatment followed by a one-way ticket back home as the “deal”?
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:43 am
As you can see, everybody has their fingers in the pie. Raise cigarette taxes – with the price of gas, a person would be fairly stupid to drive anymore than 10 miles out of their way to buy cheaper cigs. The franchise fee is a fee paid by utilities to use public ROW in cities – why counties can’t change the law, I have no clue – but that is something ACOG needs to address. We need a better income tax equation and we need more sales tax – but only to reduce property taxes.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:45 am
I asked Bill Heath why the state could not mandate that all medical treatment provided at taxpayer expense to illegal residents could not be charged to the individual’s country of origin – should not the Mexican Government pay Grady for these medical treatments? The health of their citizens is their problem, not Grady’s.
Jane
September 1st, 2010
9:45 am
Just send their county of origin the bill.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:45 am
Bill Heath acted as though I was an idiot – BUT, why are Fulton County taxpayers funding these outlaw’s dialysis?
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:47 am
Jim – you may know – what prevents Grady from billing he Mexican Consulate for services rendered?
deegee
September 1st, 2010
9:47 am
If we can’t take care of 38 charity cases, then we can’t take care of anybody.
Here’s an idea. Why can’t we create jobs by sending auditors and experienced managers into every public project and look for ways to cut waste and fraud? Below is one example that was reported in the AJC this week where $40 million was saved in just one metro school district. Dekalb County saved $40 million, so imagine what you could save in the entire state if you sent auditors in to see what our State and local governments are doing with the money they get from us taxpayers?
“Barbara Colman was brought in to make sure our construction projects stayed on track and under budget whenever possible,” board chairman Tom Bowen said. “As a result of her managing this process, we’re going to benefit to the tune of $40 million that will be available for different projects.”
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:48 am
aquagirl – the quintessential liberal – always loves to spend other people’s money to help those who are not as fortunate as the wealthy paying most of the taxes. I’d love to know how much she gives to charity and how much she earns per year.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
9:49 am
deegee – we should NOT be taking care of anyone – that is socialism, no?
Larry Edgar
September 1st, 2010
9:52 am
I am a taxpayer for over 40 years and can not afford insurance, but my tax dollar can be used for illegals medical care, this is bull s@#%*. This has got to stop. If free coverage can be provided for illegals then I want free medical. Have our officals lost their minds. The people that make these dicisions should pay for this out of their pockets.
louise
September 1st, 2010
9:52 am
Paddy O, the difference between you and aquagirl is that she has a heart and is a real Christian and follows the teachings of Jesus the Christ who taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to take care of those less fortunate.
Cissy
September 1st, 2010
9:54 am
I’ve got to agree with Larry M. Shar, and roughrider: Why are these people still here? I know Gwinnett County Hospital sent home an illegal resident a few years ago; by the time he left his care had cost Gwinett County taxpayers over $1,000,000.00. Why is our own government turning a blind eye to the laws of this country? Who made the decision that they could all stay and get medical treatment at our expense? Is anyone brave enough to ‘fess up to having pressured Grady to keep them on? Surely the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta, which pays exactly none of Grady’s expenses, did not have the final say in this matter.
WHY AREN’T OUR LEADERS LISTENING TO US TAXPAYERS? We pay for Grady; we should have a say in who gets treatment there. I have no problem with anyone whose life is in immediate peril–say as the result of a medical emergency–getting treatment there or anywhere else. But these people have a chronic condition, not an acute one; they could travel for a couple of days without the dialysis they insist they get here; and they are HERE ILLEGALLY. I will stop fussing about this outrage when I hear that the Mexican Consulate is paying for their treatment.
Kaye
September 1st, 2010
9:59 am
So they get free health care but a citizen that has worked most of their life is topld to go “write your will” when they do not have insurance and can pre pay for the services to kep them alive? Gotta love this country!
Aquagirl
September 1st, 2010
10:22 am
Actually louise, I’m not a “real christian” since I don’t use Jesus as a get out of h3ll free card.
The anti-abortion crew constantly hollers those sacred blastocysts can’t help how/where they were conceived, they have a right to life. I don’t think Mexicans had a choice about being born in Mexico either. Yet somehow, that’s their fault and they should just die for being born in a place where dialysis is not as available as it is to these “christians.”
Those illegals should just go back home and die. What wingnut thinking. Surely Jesus would deport them.
deegee
September 1st, 2010
10:27 am
Okay, Paddy O. You win, No social security and medicare. That’s socialism.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
10:41 am
louise – you feel sorry for these people and wish to help them – that is charity – not the job of the government – unless you are operating a socialist government. louise – explain why you personally are so eager to spend taxpayer funds on non-citizens? what is the logical basis for this? your philosophy has no termination and is thus morally bankrupt and will lead to the bankruptcy of the country.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 1st, 2010
10:41 am
“at no cost”?????
Seems our property taxes are covering the cost…and the bill needs to be delivered to the Hispanic Apostolate of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, where I bought my own copy of their Document 199-7, “The National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry,” though it’s unlikely they have any more copies to sell as they’re rapidly attempting to “unring that bell”: on Amazon.com a new one is upwards of $200 and I paid $4.95 for mine.
Those who disagree are witting or unwitting agents of the “Fifth Column” of the Roman Anti-Christ America’s whig Founders identified. Why do you think Our Creed contains “Novus Ordo Seclorem” and “Annuit Coeptis?” It’s bad enough the illegals are here as a published, enunciated, treasonous, tax-free stratagem for taking over Our Country: many or most of those actually born “American” haven’t a clue what the “E Pluribus Unum” Creed which made us great and brought the blessings of “divine Providence” upon us actually means.
“…a faction has entered into a conspiracy with the enemies of their country to chain down the Legislature at the feet of both…” Th. Jefferson to James Madison, March 1796
Seal the border.
Hang Bush and Cheney
Restore Righteousness to America, by G-d (i.e. Truth, Justice, Abolishment of Evil – not the lies of transparent perverts, panders and frauds fronting for fascist plutocracy like Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin)
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
10:46 am
deegee – you can make a “public welfare” argument for taking care of the old & infirm – particularly when those individuals have paid into the system for their whole lives. I concur that those with genetic health problems (citizens of this country!!), who can not obtain health insurance needs assistance in obtaining that insurance. but obamacare is unconstitutional, and without a severance clause, will hopefully be struck down in its entirety. NJ received $141 million to help 21,000 people – that is insane & unaffordable.
lmno
September 1st, 2010
11:03 am
How is “Obamacare” unconstitutional?
I mean, which amendment specifically bars the Federal Government from requiring citizens to purchase health insurance?
I’m not saying you’re wrong, I just can’t think of where the Constitution addresses that.
deegee
September 1st, 2010
11:10 am
Paddy O, you pay social security and medicare so that someone else has a benefit. If you live long enough to draw social security and medicare, someone else is paying your benefit. It’s socialism. If you don’t like it, opt out and let your family and friends take care of you.
Cedric
September 1st, 2010
11:26 am
Why is taxpayer money going for this? Medivac them to the nearest border crossing, bill the Mexican government for the costs and let their government take care of it.
...
September 1st, 2010
11:41 am
It said illegal immigrants, that does not mean they are Mexican as every one assumes…
I do think that illegal immigrants no matter what nationally they are should not get free health care from any one any where. Sadly, not every one thinks that way. As a Grady baby it does make me sad the way that hospital is now, and as a tax paying US citizen it makes me mad that all those people out their get so many free things from the goverment. Them being illegal or legal, its just unfair that we who pay tax sometimes are not able to get as much as those out their that dont do anything but be lazy. Thats my opinion.
deegee
September 1st, 2010
11:42 am
What if every other country around the world dumped every uninsured American patient in their hospitals on the doorsteps of the U.S. and told the U.S. government to pay up?
A dilemma
September 1st, 2010
11:43 am
What would Jesus do?
...
September 1st, 2010
11:44 am
Kill all of us instantly for being such unfair, greedy and selfish human beings.
lmno
September 1st, 2010
11:51 am
I will agree to deport these people if everyone will once and for all admit that we are not a Christian Nation.
Lumpkin resident
September 1st, 2010
11:57 am
This has cost Grady, and (and thus, taxpayers), more than $2million per year for more than 10 years. This is just FORTY THREE patients that cost the taxpayers $50k per year EACH. These people have used more health care than many people earn in their entire lives. I don’t have an answer. I just know that our healthcare system and the homeowners of Dekalb and Fulton cannot shoulder that kind of burden indefinitely.
Lumpkin resident
September 1st, 2010
11:58 am
“What would Jesus do?”
Jesus would heal them.
Nan
September 1st, 2010
12:07 pm
Interesting how everyone assumes that if someone is here illegally he or she is also automatically Mexican.
...
September 1st, 2010
12:15 pm
@Nan I know that is exactly what I thought
Mike Flanagan
September 1st, 2010
12:20 pm
I only wish we could send all of the whining US citizens to Mexico. Mexicans are hard working people and have great respect for the US and its laws. In fact, they are the major reason California is doing so well. The only other place I can think of that is better is India. It’s people are so proud and honest. I can only hope the entire country can be as great as Buford Highway some day.
MiltonMan
September 1st, 2010
12:23 pm
Wow. It is wonderful that the morons running Fulton County just raised my millage rate to help pay for this. Nathan Deal when you stomp Rat Barnes & his teacher buddies, please create Milton County on your 1st day in office.
Shar
September 1st, 2010
12:27 pm
I wrote to my Fulton County Commissioners this morning, telling them that I oppose spending any further tax money on chronic health care for illegal immigrants and asking why there has been no reported request from them to any Mexican government entity to cover these costs. I sent a copy to Salvador de Lara, the Mexican consul general.
I’m with Cissy – if a person, any person, appears at an American hospital ER with life-threatening illnesses, or presents with a contagious condition that would threaten public health, I have no objection to tax dollars being used for their immediate care. However, if they require chronic care, I believe that they should be offered a choice: Payment for three months at the hospital’s rates to a provider in their country of origin or no care here. Finger print all ER patients and maintain a health care database so that those who would move from hospital to hospital for care would be identified.
Given that nearly every country on earth has lower health care costs and fewer facilities than we do, sending tax dollars for patient funding would serve to improve access to health care for those still in country as well as the returning patient, who would receive treatment longer. If providing these unfortunates with care is charity, we all know where that begins. Charity is also a choice, while taxes are not. I choose my own charities, but money confiscated by force of law should be spent for the betterment of my own country and fellow citizens. And the hypothetical for treatment of US citizens who are ill abroad is not reasonable: We send far fewer people abroad than come here legally or illegally, and those who do go abroad disproportionately have health insurance.
DannyX
September 1st, 2010
12:34 pm
“Jesus would heal them.”
WRONGO.
Jesus would surely be a member of the Southern Baptist Church. He would also have to earn a living. Jesus would be raking in the bucks. He would understand that things have changed. He would now be an advocate for the rich just like the good Republicans of this Red state are. Long gone are the days when the poor would have a better chance of going to heaven. The days of the rich having a .05% chance of getting past the pearly gates are over.
Jesus would certainly favor tax breaks for the rich and be disgusted by the “health care for all” wimps. Jesus would be the head of his own major corporation. He would have no room helping the Christian immigrants from the south. He would mock those that were jealous of his wealth.
If those poor Christian immigrants from the south wanted dialysis they would have to pay the going rate. Other services provided by JC Inc would be market value:
Bringing the dead back to life- $20,000,000.00
New heart- $10,000,000.00
Healing the blind- $5,000,000.00
Repairing athletes elbow, knees etc. $5,000,000.00
Going hungry? Pulling fish out of a basket- $85 per pound
Need Sweet Tea for a wedding? $100 a gallon for turning water into tea. (Since Jesus is a Southern Baptist there will be no more wine.)
Jesus will accept Amex, MC and Visa. All major insurance accepted.
(Food Stamps not accepted.)
Shar
September 1st, 2010
12:38 pm
Nan: Previous reporting on this issue has identified the great majority of this group as coming from Mexico.
Mike: California is bankrupt due to an overwhelming prison population, an enormous social services budget, political infighting and Prop 13, which keeps property assessments below market rates. The state also struggles with education as a huge percentage of students in the big systems like the LA Unified and the SD Unified do not speak English, making teaching nearly impossible.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 1st, 2010
12:42 pm
Why send the bill to Mexico? Rome’s false aristocracy runs that country, too. Get to the heart of the problem the same way America’s Founders did: call it, “an engine for enslaving mankind,” “the real Anti-Christ” that it is, recognize all the treasons, assassinations, false wars, molestation and debasement of the currency their “Fifth Column” has accomplished, expropriate them and their fascist plutocracy, running Washington and their farm-teams around the states, then kick them out and hang any traitors unwilling to leave on their own.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
12:42 pm
jesus stated “offer up to caesar that which is caesar”; ie – you follow the laws of the land; ie government. these people are violating the law because liberal policies provides a ton of perks – and they can depend upon bleeding heart liberals such as aquagirl & louise to continue advocating for this stupid spending – we as a nation can not afford. Luckily, in this instance – it is the morons who live in Fulton County (and do not demand the sheriff participate in ICE) that are throwing their money away. deegee – your perception that today’s payment only fund the current beneficiaries is only accurate if you dislike the program. How am I not paying for the future benefit? It only becomes a current operating fee if the program does NOT exist when I am ready to retire. quite possible due to our representatives essentially stealing from the ss trust fund. Bush himself stated that repayment of those funds was highly unlikely.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
12:43 pm
will jones the RC biggest hater.
DannyX
September 1st, 2010
12:48 pm
New rules people.
“Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”
Has been changed. Get this through your thick liberal skulls. We have done some editing.
“Verily I say unto you, that a poor man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a poor man to enter into the kingdom of God”
Send them poor people back! Remember Jesus is an AMERICAN now.
Paddy O
September 1st, 2010
12:51 pm
nan – what are the odds that 50% of the subject are Mexican? 2% or more likely 95%? Pretending to be blind just loses you credibility.
DannyX
September 1st, 2010
12:54 pm
This is the new Christian reality.
Poor people listen up, Jesus commands you to sell all of your possessions and give the money to a rich person.