Reyes, UMC Send Letter To Obama Requesting Money For Treatment Of Patients

The constant violence in Juarez has brought many patients to El Paso.

It’s a trend costing taxpayers millions.

University Medical Center and the Texas Tech School of Medicine are asking President Obama for money to treat those patients.

“The situation in Juarez is not getting any better,” said University Medical’s Public Affairs Director, Margaret Althoff-Olivas.

She said while most people hurt across the border who come to El Paso for treatment are U.S citizens those patients keep coming.

In 2008, when the drug cartel war erupted in Juarez, 53 patients came across for medical help. In 2009, that number grew to 83.

And this year, it’s already 26.

For a total of 162 patients, that’s a cost of nearly $3 million.

“We don’t feel that it is fair for local tax payers to have to absorb the burden, financial burden of caring for these patients.” said Althoff-Olivas.

UMC’s neighbor, Texas Tech’s Paul Foster School of Medicine, has also been affected with a loss of about $382,000 since only 32 percent of doctors fees have been paid.

“They care for these patients not knowing if they’ll get paid for the care that they deliver…and as it turns out, very little of the physicians fees have been reimbursed,” said Althoff-Olivas.

The letter sent to President Obama, from UMC, Texas Tech and Congressman Silvestre Reyes’ office states, “Mr. President, neither of our organizations can sustain such losses, yet we are required by federal law to provide life saving treatments to patients in need of emergency care, regardless of their nationality.”

“The burden just can’t get any higher in terms of shifting tax dollars in order to care for a very specific patient population when our mission is to care for all,” said Althoff-Olivas.

A burden their hoping the White House will help them carry.