In a controversial decision that is likely to cause a national uproar, Atlanta-based Grady Memorial Hospital has agreed to financially assist dialysis provider Fresenius Medical Services to offer care to several illegal immigrants who are end-stage renal patients. What's more, Fresenius, Emory University and DaVita Inc.--another dialysis provider--also will treat three to five more illegal renal patients each, likely as charity cases, reports the New York Times.
The decision comes as a similar contract between Grady and Fresenius expires. That contract provided dialysis treatment to illegals for a transition period of one year after Grady closed its outpatient dialysis clinic, which was losing money. Sixty immigrants were affected by that decision, which was made in the wake of "a patient lawsuit and news media scrutiny."
In all, this new deal will help treat 38 patients.
Care for illegal immigrants has always been a hot-button issue, especially for a nation already languishing in financial doldrums. In a similar situation in Las Vegas last year, officials with University Medical Center told the Las Vegas Review that the hospital was paying roughly $24 million a year to treat 80 illegal immigrants.
Details, such as which patients will go where, what Grady's portion of the bill will be and how long the treatment will last have yet to be determined.
Currently, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires ERs to provide treatment for all patients, regardless of citizenship status.
To learn more:
- read this New York Times piece
- check out this AOL News article