| In the midst of numerous proposals before the | | | | documents, relying only upon a signature of the |
| Senate regarding legislation concerning the | | | | applicant to certify whether or not they are |
| legalization of illegal aliens has arisen a little known | | | | American citizens. And as a result of the |
| provision of the recently signed 2005 Deficit | | | | unaccountability for Medicaid fraud abuse over the |
| Reduction Act. On February 8, 2006, President | | | | past several decades, the U.S. government may |
| George Bush executed a bill into law which now | | | | be penalizing the vast majority of law abiding |
| requires recipients of Medicaid benefits to provide | | | | citizens, according to numerous patient advocates. |
| either an original birth certificate or passport in | | | | But the issue is more about the continuing lack of |
| order to apply for or to continue to receive their | | | | enforcement of U.S. immigration law rather than |
| health care benefits, commencing July 1, 2006.The | | | | an attempt to cut down on Medicaid |
| Medicaid program, available to American citizens | | | | fraud.According to Families USA, a consumer |
| who fall into a specified low income bracket, | | | | advocacy organization, the disabled, the mentally |
| provides health care to adults and children, as well | | | | ill, the homeless, the elderly and the chronically ill |
| as the elderly and those in nursing homes. While | | | | will unfairly suffer as the result of this new |
| much hand wringing and spin continues in the U.S. | | | | proviso, as they would have difficulty accessing |
| Congress regarding how to best deal with the | | | | copies of birth certificates, and would be far less |
| status of illegal aliens, which directly impacts costs | | | | likely to own a U.S. passport. Therefore, they will |
| of U.S. government entitlement programs, this | | | | be unfairly denied necessary health care beginning |
| new requirement has yet to be discussed. As the | | | | as early as July 1st. Meanwhile, hospital |
| result of the newly passed Massachusetts | | | | emergency rooms may still not turn away any |
| universal health care plan, which will include the | | | | person of any status nor may they ask the legal |
| Medicaid program, the new provision was just | | | | status of any patient, according to the |
| publicly revealed.However, the present | | | | Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of |
| requirements for Medicaid require no such | | | | 1985. |