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WorldNetDaily ^ | August 26, 2003 | Jon Dougherty Posted on 08/26/2003 8:57:21 AM PDT by 8 Robert Drobot The Arizona Supreme Court has rejected a plea by the state's Medicaid provider to limit medical coverage for illegal immigrants to emergency room and acute care. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, manager of the state's Medicaid program, is obligated to provide care to illegals beyond emergency room and other acute care wards, justices ruled unanimously Thursday. According to Capitol Media Services and the Arizona Daily Star, AHCCCS - which currently pays $75 million to $80 million a year in emergency care for illegals - had refused to reimburse hospitals for services it said were not covered. About one-third of that amount is covered by state taxpayers; AHCCCS had argued it was only obligated to pay for emergency treatment - coverage that stopped once patients were moved to non-acute care wards. But Justice Michael Ryan, writing for the high court, called that definition far too narrow. Frank Lopez, a spokesman for the Medicaid agency, said officials would have to review the ruling, but he expressed confidence AHCCCS would end up paying for the care of illegals who previously were not considered the state's obligation. A series of lawsuits followed after AHCCCS refused to pay for the extra care in several cases. In consolidating the complaints, justices said the state Medicaid agency could not base its decision whether or not to pay the claims on where the care was being given at hospitals. He said AHCCCS must instead use a standard of care based on whether a patient's symptoms have, or could, put them in serious jeopardy, seriously impair function or result in a severe dysfunction of any organ or body part. Despite the justices' ruling, the high court did not say whether AHCCCS would have to cover any of the bills that resulted in the lawsuits. Rather, the high court sent the case back to trial judges, asking them to review each patient's record using the correct standard. This is especially true in areas suffering from high immigration. As WorldNetDaily reported, the cost of providing medical care to illegals in and around Los Angeles is rising so fast that many hospitals have cut services or closed emergency departments. According to Project USA, an immigration reform group, the problem is "epidemic" throughout California. The group adds the problem is compounded because fewer taxes are being paid to support care for illegals. Mass immigration causing urban 'bloat' Immigration fueling California growth 'Army' to patrol southwest border? Document fraud imperils homeland ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Jon E. Dougherty is a staff reporter and columnist for WorldNetDaily.
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