Burning Atlanta

No hospital, I am aware of, keeps any kind of accurate records of how many illegals they treat. I've seen some legislatures propose the idea to try and get a grasp of the problem. I don't know if any are currently keeping track of the numbers.

Boot them

Federal money set aside to reimburse hospitals for the care of illegal immigrants is going to run out at the end of this year.

For the past four years the federal government has set aside $250 million a year to reimburse border hospitals for the care of illegal immigrants.

"Indeed we spend millions upon millions each year, for care for these patients," said Dr. Michael Christopher, chief of staff at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Christopher would like to see the federal program continued past this year.

Christopher said in reality hospitals weren't getting much money from the feds to help cover those care costs.

"What it amounted to was literally pennies on the dollar," Christopher said.

But every little bit helps.

"There's hospitals throughout the country that have closed as a result of being fiscally insolvent from the outflow of care that's been demanded upon them," Christopher said.

Christopher said this is a federal problem that is unfortunately being forced on the backs of states and hospitals to figure out.