Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare

[mtlinscomb]

Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room#

Senate Finance Committee Democrats rejected a proposed a requirement that immigrants prove their identity with photo identification when signing up for federal healthcare programs.

Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that current law and the healthcare bill under consideration are too lax and leave the door open to illegal immigrants defrauding the government using false or stolen identities to obtain benefits.

Grassley's amendment was beaten back 10-13 on a party-line vote.

The bill, authored by committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), would require applicants to verify their names, places of birth and Social Security numbers. In addition, legal immigrants would have to wait five years, as under current law, after obtaining citizenship or legal residency to access federal healthcare benefits such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or receive tax credits or purchase insurance through the exchange created by the legislation.

But the would not require them to show a photo ID, such as a drivers license. Without that requirement, the bill "remains dearly lacking when it comes to identification," Grassley said. "Frankly, I'm very perplexed as to why anyone would oppose this amendment," he said.

But Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who represents the border state of New Mexico, said that the type of fraud Grassley said he wants to prevent is highly uncommon. "The way I see the amendment, it's a solution without a problem," Bingaman said.

 

[Here4Good]

I'm going to temporarily suspend my vow to never reply to this poster (which I am sure I will regret).

This is a solution to a problem which does not exist.

Rules Deter Poor Children From Enrolling in Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

Several years ago the feds decided that they would start requiring proof of citizenship for Medicaid recipients, despite the fact that the Inspector General said there was little evidence of fraud by illegal immigrants.

The result was thousands of eligible children and others excluded from care, because they had no ID. Remember, this is still America - you are not issued a government ID card.

Shortly after the rule was put into effect, it was suspended:

Citizenship Rules Eased For Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

, after the states and medical professionals rebelled. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it, and it looks like we actually have a few congressmen who can remember what happened before lunch yesterday.

Show me the evidence of fraud in the Medicaid system by illegal immigrants. The fraud is being perpetrated by good old US citizens.

 

[mtlinscomb]

I'm going to temporarily suspend my vow to never reply to this poster (which I am sure I will regret).

This is a solution to a problem which does not exist.

Rules Deter Poor Children From Enrolling in Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

Several years ago the feds decided that they would start requiring proof of citizenship for Medicaid recipients, despite the fact that the Inspector General said there was little evidence of fraud by illegal immigrants.

The result was thousands of eligible children and others excluded from care, because they had no ID. Remember, this is still America - you are not issued a government ID card.

Shortly after the rule was put into effect, it was suspended:

Citizenship Rules Eased For Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

, after the states and medical professionals rebelled. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it, and it looks like we actually have a few congressmen who can remember what happened before lunch yesterday.

Show me the evidence of fraud in the Medicaid system by illegal immigrants. The fraud is being perpetrated by good old US citizens.

I have absolutely no desire to keep those eligible for Medicaid from receiving it. At the same time, I truly feel that a portion of the left in DC is trying to use the healthcare debate as a window to amnesty. The packaging jobs in DC are disgusting on both sides of the aisle and this one in particular would be disturbing considering the words that came out of the President's mouth. At the same time it wouldn't necessarily be a lie if they were provided amnesty as his words were that we wouldn't provide healthcare to illegals.

 

[kkddbb]

I'm going to temporarily suspend my vow to never reply to this poster (which I am sure I will regret).

This is a solution to a problem which does not exist.

Rules Deter Poor Children From Enrolling in Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

Several years ago the feds decided that they would start requiring proof of citizenship for Medicaid recipients, despite the fact that the Inspector General said there was little evidence of fraud by illegal immigrants.

The result was thousands of eligible children and others excluded from care, because they had no ID. Remember, this is still America - you are not issued a government ID card.

Shortly after the rule was put into effect, it was suspended:

Citizenship Rules Eased For Medicaid - washingtonpost.com

, after the states and medical professionals rebelled. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it, and it looks like we actually have a few congressmen who can remember what happened before lunch yesterday.

Show me the evidence of fraud in the Medicaid system by illegal immigrants. The fraud is being perpetrated by good old US citizens.

 

[Here4Good]

I have absolutely no desire to keep those eligible for Medicaid from receiving it. At the same time, I truly feel that a portion of the left in DC is trying to use the healthcare debate as a window to amnesty. The packaging jobs in DC are disgusting on both sides of the aisle and this one in particular would be disturbing considering the words that came out of the President's mouth. At the same time it wouldn't necessarily be a lie if they were provided amnesty as his words were that we wouldn't provide healthcare to illegals.

So, the entire health care reform bill is just a trojan horse to sneak in amnesty?

That's a stretch.

 

[Here4Good]

I don't know if you read Dilbert, but there is a character in the cartoon named "Mordac, Preventor of IT Services". This is a riot to those of us in the business, because for most of us, the IT department's entire job is to create so many rules and regulations to make the actual implementation of any information services almost impossible.

Now, that's funny when you are trying to deploy business systems, but not really very funny when you are talking about deploying healthcare services.

These addon junk regulations do just that - increase the paperwork and prevent work from getting done, to solve a problem which is not proportional to the response.

 

[mtlinscomb]

So, the entire health care reform bill is just a trojan horse to sneak in amnesty?

That's a stretch.

never said entire - as i know this is a passionate issue for the left. i do feel though that a portion (again, using the word portion - since there are folks here who get upset when don't choose your words carefully) of the left knows this might be their best chance to create a loophole that would make amnesty inevitable. let's face it we're not going to have anyone with enough guts to send them all home, nor do i think it would be financially feasible. and since providing identification for healthcare, voting, employment etc. is considered profiling and racist, the battle is one that we have already lost. the current administration just decided this week to reduce the number of border guards by 300+, so yeah, my eyes are wide open on this one.

 

[Here4Good]

never said entire - as i know this is a passionate issue for the left. i do feel though that a portion (again, using the word portion - since there are folks here who get upset when don't choose your words carefully) of the left knows this might be their best chance to create a loophole that would make amnesty inevitable. let's face it we're not going to have anyone with enough guts to send them all home, nor do i think it would be financially feasible. and since providing identification for healthcare, voting, employment etc. is considered profiling and racist, the battle is one that we have already lost. the current administration just decided this week to reduce the number of border guards by 300+, so yeah, my eyes are wide open on this one.

I still think you are barking up the wrong tree.

 

[mtlinscomb]

I still think you are barking up the wrong tree.

considering that those in dc debating said tree don't fully understand the contents within its' branches, barking seems appropriate. and i'd be willing to wager that when said tree falls in the woods it will make a sound

 

[scooterbug44]

I still don't understand why having ID requirements is so problematic.

I can't do anything without photo ID - cash a check, stay in a hotel, fly, get an alcoholic beverage, use a credit card, drive a car, get medical care, buy certain OTC cold medication, vote.

When I was a kid I had to get a state photo ID card so I could go to Canada and back.

IMO free health care is quite the carrot for someone to get a $25 state photo id.................especially if a social worker or similar were allowed to waive the fee.

I do think that the "illegals are stealing from us" argument is a distraction that is used far too often, but I really don't think proving your identity is too much to ask when we are shelling out money.

What about a fingerprinting system instead of a photo id?