I am a student attending the nursing class on health policy frameworks in Utah. I am a registered nurse, and the class is currently discussing the effects of illegal immigration in Utah on the nursing and healthcare in the region. I am concerned on the cost borne by Utah in providing the additional medical services due to the high growth rate of illegal immigrants in the region. The study conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) examined that the cost for incarceration and health care of illegal aliens have increased to, approximately, $10.5 billion yearly. It has been deduced that approximately 40% of immigrants to Utah are illegal, and it has poised a challenge to the government on how to budget for the undocumented individuals.
The policy framework that is in place for the illegal immigrants is diverse across the states in America. In Utah, for instance, the residents formed the Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration in September 2004. They realized that their health conditions were not only affected, but the immigrants were taking their jobs away from them (Percy, 2001). This left them with poverty despite their hospitable nature. However, elected officials in Utah encouraged illegal immigration by offering illegal aliens drivers’ licenses and in-state tuition. As such, if the law is not enforced to the latter, the health condition for Utah individuals will be devastating.
U.S. government does not only focus on the health care costs for immigrants in Utah, but also on the education cost. The report stated that the state is struggling on the K-12 system of education. It spends approximately $7.8 billion each year in financing illegal aliens’ education (Torres-Cantero, 2006). However, as the focus is on the declining health condition of the Utah population, we cannot just sit back and watch the state fall into demise without taking any relevant initiative to curb its impact. We should fight for the life of our dear Americans!
Background
Illegal Migration is one of the controversial issues that surround the politics in U.S. and Utah in particular. Most of the immigrants are forced to settle in Utah due to the hospitable nature of the Americans living in this region. In the U.S., it is estimated that over 200,000 babies are born of which their mothers are illegal aliens. It is the duty of the taxpayers to ensure that the children access proper health facilities, and they do not lack any social amenities for their survival. This has been a burden to the society as there is no clear framework on the number of immigrants in the region for the government to budget its resources effectively (Romero-Ortuno, 2004).
Consequently, estimating the cost, on the yearly budget, of quality health care provision to the undocumented immigrants is limited to emergency medical care. Lack of central, uniform record keeping, and administrative records are too unreliable to use in making a decisive decision. The federal government funds will only cater for the documented immigrants, and there is no provision for any miscellaneous costs associated to undocumented immigrants. This implies that society will have to share the limited resources that the government distributes to healthcare in an attempt to save a life of the immigrant.
In addition, the problem of estimating emergency medical service costs under Medicaid remains difficult. The Physician, not Medicaid or the state, determines medical emergency and definitions are variable (Pelner, 2005). Emergency Medicaid spending is an open-ended prerogative. As a result, it projects emergency Medicaid costs based on the medical practices that were earlier on undertaken. It may not incorporate relevant changes affecting medical practices and judgment in the health conditions of illegal immigrants.
Ideally, estimating total medical costs for Utah is also difficult. Localities of Utah are responsible for the indigent people’s medical expenses, which are not included in the federal’s cost estimates for the year, as the data for immigrants does not specify their status— whether legal or illegal. As such, it poses an economic challenge to the Utah legal population.
The challenge is mostly on the field of nursing, as they are required to provide medical healthcare to the whole population, regardless of one’s legality. This implies that quality medical care would not be a necessity to the population living in this region, as the limited resources available will be shared amongst the legal and illegal population.
Recommended Solution
The federal government should put into consideration on the availability of the illegal immigrants in the region. It should provide Utah with additional medical resources as it devises long-term strategies of preventing illegal immigration into the region. I submit to you that the long-term solution will only be achieved when you impose strict rules on the illegal migration to Utah. Politicians and elected leaders should not hinder the process of achieving the desired goals. A nation or a state that is well planned will prosper with ease unlike the one that is not governed by any rules and regulations.
Sincerely,
Nursing Student_____________
References
Pelner, C.M. (2005). Illegal Aliens and American Medicine. The Journal of the American Physicians and Surgeons, 10(1), 1-12.
Percy, E. (2001). Emigration: Implications for U.S. Immigration Policy Research. American Journal of Medical, 4(1), 201-213.
Romero-Ortuno, R. (2004). Access to health care for illegal immigrants in the EU: should we be concerned? European Journal of Health Law, 11(2), 245-272.
Torres-Cantero, A.M. (2006). Heath care provision for illegal immigrants: may health policy make a difference? European Journal of Health Law, 17(5), 483-485.