waaytv.com
GUNTHERSVILLE, Alabama -- A Marshall County commissioner says the Marshall county tax payers are paying the medical bills for illegal immigrants living in other counties, and he's looking to the state for reimbursement.
Commissioner Buddy Allen has urged lawmakers to take a stronger stand on illegal immigration, particularly where it impacts healthcare. He said immigrants from miles around come to Marshall County because they know they can get emergency room treatment free.
Marshall Medical Medical Centers are publicly funded by property taxed, which means they can't turn anyone seeking medical care away. Hospitals in Etowah, De Kalb and Blount counties are privately owned and can be more selective with their intake.
According to Allen, since many of the illegal immigrants come to Marshall County for treatment the state should help out. Senate Bill 426 covers a broad range of topics from transportation of illegals to verification efforts by employers.
Before the bill goes before the full Alabama Senate, Allen has asked that it be amended to include healthcare.
"We don't want to be meanspirited about it, so to speak," Allen said. "But we are interested in protecting the taxpayers of Marshall County. And we don't feel like this is a good situation."
Gary Gore, the CEO of Marshall Medical Center, issued a statement, saying: "The economic impact of providing care for a growing number of uninsured patients is significant and is an issue about which concern is valid."
Gore did not make any mention of illegal immigrants in the statement, but said the system is working to educate all residents on when to properly use the emergency facilities.
Posted by tyne at March 25, 2008