Quote:
Originally posted by Moses
Patient confidentialty precludes the hospital from reporting the patient to immigration services. In fact, we are not even allowed to ask their citizenship status.
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When we as insured taxpaying citizens go to a hospital (ER or otherwise) we are required to sign legal documents guaranteeing payment to the hospital if our insurance company refuses to pay. Unless we're bleeding on the floor, this is required before we receive care. If for some reason, our insurance doesn't pay and we refuse payment...our lives become a living hell as a result of being hounded by collection agencies and having our credit rating comprimised. But, this rarely happens because our insurance does pay, and so do we for co-payments, etc.
If only we were illegal aliens. Then we're free to receive the best possible medical attention without the need for an appointment, a payment guarantee, insurance, etc., all without a collection agency chasing us afterward. It doesn't seem unrealistic to require a signature approving notification of illegal status if the medical bill goes unpaid. Ahhh, but this is America.
Where Moses is concerned, I'm not losing sleep over his investment in this idiocy. It's a known job hazard. We all have them in different forms. No one ever said it would be "fair"...and it rarely is. Keep providing the best care you can...that way you can sleep at night while the burocracy rages on...whether you're paid or not.