May. 24, 2006 - 21:37 MDT

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An article in this morning's Rocky Mountain News gives warning of things to come. Written by Rachel Brand of the Rocky Mountain News -- herein quoted in full:

ID rules could snare more than illegals

Proof of citizenship a potential 'hassle' for a lot of folks'

"Can you find your birth certificate or passport ? Hundreds of thousands of people on Medicaid soon will have to."

"A new federal law intended to keep illegal immigrants off Medicaid could be a paperwork nightmare for everyone else."

"The law, effective July 1, will ask Medicaid applicants to supply proof of citizenship in order to get government-paid health insurance. Proof could be a U.S. passport, or a combination of birth certificate and state-issued photo identification."

"It has the potential of being a hassle for a lot of folks," said Barbara Prehmus, executive director of Colorado's office of medical assistance."

"The two categories of folks I'm most concerned about are minors -- I mean, how many little kids have photo IDs? -- and the elderly, particularly the elderly who don't have family around," she said. "Those who run the risk of being a little confused about things."

"The new law, a little noticed provision in the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, is expected to wean 35,000 people nationwide of Medicaid over 10 years and save the federal government $735 million by 2015. according to the Congressional Budget Office."

"The law also applies to people renewing their Medicaid elegibility, although they'll get a 30-day written notice to find the documents."

"Proponents argue it will save states money, leaving more cash for the poorest citizens who need help most."

"We're not saying that illegal immigrants should not be receiving health care," said John Stone, a spokesman for Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Georgia, who authored the provision."

"We are saying we've got to stop taking the funds that are designated for low-income Americans to pay for (illegal immigrants' health care)."

"Stone believes the country's loose rules encourage people to come to the U.S. illegally."

"If you come to the United States, you've got free health care," Stone said."

"But opponents say the poor could become victims of this new law."

"The $15 minimum fee for a copy of a birth certificate alone will prove a barrier to many of Colorado's poor, said Kathryn Werner, intake supervisor for the People's Clinic in Boulder."

"For a single mom with three kids, reapplying for Medicaid, it can be a real hardship," Werner said."

"Kay Ramachaneran, CEO of the People's Clinic, said it could cause a meltdown, given the well-publicized disarray in the Colorado Benefits Management System, the new $200 million system for assessing welfare elegibility."

"Werner predicted a "huge burden" on the Division of Motor Vehicles and health departments as thousands of families rush to get photo IDs of their children"

"Medicaid, Ramachaneran said "serves the poorest of the poor. To ask them to jump through hoops to get medical care is quite shocking."

"The state needs to look at flexibility around what it requires. They need to create exceptions for people in nursing homes with no families who are all on their own."

"Ramachaneran said nursing home officials should be able to vouch for a person's citizenship, or state officials should take the resident's word for it."

"Denver Health also opposes the new regulation and predicts it could cut the health center's funding $12 million a year."

"With less than six weeks before the law goes into effect, Colorado's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is awaiting final word from the federal government about acceptable forms of identification."

"Mary Kahn, a Medicare spokeswoman, said the agency plans to send guidance letters to states in several weeks."

"There is very little wiggle room in the statute," Kahn said."

"Part of the reason we haven't had anything out yet is it's an incredibly complicated and sensitive issue," she said. "But the clock is running."

"Regardless of the federal government's final decision, hospitals still will be required to screen and stablilze anyone, regardless of citizenship, who shows up at an emergency room."

"And the state's Medicaid department would be responsible for those charges. In 2004-2005, Colorado's Medicaid program spent approximately $53 million to pay for the treatment of illegal imigrants at emergency rooms."

++++++

This is how it is going in Colorado, and I expect many of our states if not all of them are in a similar bind, as the law is federal.

I took care of and worried about my passport while I was overseas, very protective of it you might say. A half world away a guy wants to be sure that he can get out of the country he is in and be homeward bound.

Besides, the darn thing was bulky and heavy in addition to carrying a billfold there was a problem of where to put it. I suppose I could carry a birth certificate around, if push came to shove -- resent it I would. My driver's license photo ID has been good enough for me all these years and I can see where proof of citizenship should be required to get a driver's license.

So why am I worrying ? I am not on Medicaid, nor do I expect to be -- hopefully. But it looks as if our federal government is going to eventually get their precious photo ID, national drivers license into operation, one way or another.

First Medicaid recipients, next - who ? you and me ? ?

My passport (expired) is in our safety deposit box as is Heather's and our birth certificates in there also. We have our photo ID state driver's licenses on our person. I wonder how many poor people who are renting a room have a safe and secure place to keep their proof of citizenship ?

Is it being set up that at the edges of every city a person will have to show their precious national photo ID before coming into the city -- or out of it ? How about going from state to state ?

Now, it would make a lot of sense to me that a person seeking employment having to have solid proof of citizenship, including an approved photo ID card, both of which would have to be presented and xeroxed for the files of the employer. If no proof -- then no job for the applicant.

Along with that, the employer would be a felon if he didn't follow to the letter and intent of that (No Fines, imprisonment would put a stop to hiring illegals).

To my mind that is how it should work but it will probably end up with the employer not being held responsible and with all of us having MORE PAPER TO CARRY . . . . . . . . . . .

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