The impact of the bill/interim resolution if it becomes law or does not become a law
The legislative bill 599 has pros and cons whether it is enacted into law or rejected. If the legislature opts to restore the government-funded prenatal care program for illegal immigrants, it will lead to a reduced frequency of babies born with birth complications. Birth complications and defects account for most of the cases of child mortality in the US. The enactment of the bill will also result in reduced financial expenses attributed to intensive care and complications associated with delivery. This means that immigrant expectant mothers would be eligible to get free health care services funded by the taxpayers. This bill facilitates the provision of free prenatal health care services to all women irrespective of their immigrant status. However, this care should precisely be related to the patient’s pregnancy and should not include an organ transplant. The bill is intended to permit the state of Nebraska to maintain prenatal health care services provided to unborn children belonging to low-income women. This means that mothers with low income will get state-funded health care for complications related to their pregnancy. The enactment into law would also mean that the legal citizens of Nebraska would have to pay higher taxes to enable the state to finance the prenatal health care program (“Legislative Bill 599,” 2011).
In the event that the bill is defeated and does not become law, it would mean that thousands of illegal immigrants would not be eligible to receive prenatal health services financed by the state or offered by Medicare and Medicaid services. As a result, a large population of immigrant population will be left without any adequate health cover. This will probably result in increased cases of childbirth complications such as low birth weight, which would have been easily detected during prenatal care. It is estimated that, for every dollar invested in prenatal health care services offered to illegal immigrants, the state saves about four dollars from complications that would arise from childbirth (“Legislative Bill 599,” 2011).
Testimony for the bill/interim resolution.
The bill notes that the unborn child does not pose any immigration status and, as a result, they are not covered under the Nebraska laws in section 4-108. The bill also acknowledges the prenatal health care services accessible pursuant to SCHIP. These services are available for unborn infants whose admissibility is independent of the parent’s admissibility and immigration status. However, these services are not encompassed in the limitations imposed by the statute laws of Nebraska section 4-108. The bill intends to facilitate state efforts to commence and expand child health care to the uninsured, as well as children from low-income families. A child is defined as a person below the age of 19 years including the duration from conception to childbirth. The child is eligible irrespective of the mothers’ eligibility or immigration status. The bill intends to cover prenatal health care and other pregnancy-associated services that are directly related to the health and welfare of the unborn child (“Legislative Bill 599,” 2011).
The bill acknowledges that prenatal health care offered to expectant women reduces the chances of premature deliveries significantly. It also reduces the chance of low birth weight, which is linked to a broad range of genetic disabilities and infant mortality. Prenatal health care services facilitate the detection of various adverse and even fatal disabilities, most of which can presently be treated in the uterus effectively. Prenatal health care offers ultimate financial cost savings to the government through reduced costs related to neonatal and probable long-term health rehabilitation. It is also known to improve the general health and life of infants. This will result in healthy growth and development of the infants (“Legislative Bill 599” 2011).
The bill advocates for the establishment of a separate process that was allowed by SCHIP to cater to prenatal health care. The process also caters to other complications related to pregnancy, as well as those directly linked to the health of the unborn infant. The processes include catering for all professional fees related to labor and delivery, administration of pharmaceutical drugs, and prescription of vitamin supplements. Other processes include the provision of outpatient health care, the provision of lab testing when required, as well as facilitation of ultrasounds and radiology. The process may also involve the provision of services associated with conditions that have a potential risk to the maturity of pregnancy. This also covers the possible treatment of complications that pose a risk to the safe delivery of the pregnancy. It also encompasses other pregnancy-associated services that may be approved by the health department. An exception is provided for services such as optometry, dentistry, and other medical conditions that affect the mother and are not directly related to the unborn child (“Legislative Bill 599,” 2011).
A letter to the state senator
Dear Senator Campbell,
RE: LEGISLATIVE BILL 599.
I am writing to inform you that I have read the above-proposed bill, and I would like to make a personal contribution to the ongoing debate. I believe that, when enacted, the bill will ensure that all infants and mothers, irrespective of their immigrant status, get access to quality and efficient prenatal health care services. I am proud of your efforts in advocating for the bill. This new law will ensure that no unborn child shall be denied access to prenatal health care based on the immigrant status of the mother. With these few remarks, I beg to support the bill.
Yours faithfully.
Reference
“Legislative Bill 599.” (2011). Web.