“The impact of the bill/interim resolution if it becomes law or does not become a law
The legislative bill 599 has pros and cons if it is enacted into law or whether it is rejected. If the legislature opts to restore the government funded prenatal care program for illegal immigrants it will translate to reduced frequency of babies born with birth complications. Birth complications and defects account for most of the cases of child mortality in America and will also result in reduced financial expenses attributed to intensive care usage and complications associated with delivery. This means that immigrant expectant mothers would be eligible to get free health care services funded by the taxpayers. This bill facilitates the provision of free prenatal health care services to all women irrespective of their immigrant status provided that this care is precisely related to the patients pregnancy and should not include an organ transplant. The bill is intended to permit the state of Nebraska to maintain prenatal health care services provided to unborn children belonging to low income women. This means that mothers with low income will get state funded health care for complications related to their pregnancy. Enactment into law would also mean that the legal citizens of Nebraska would have to pay higher taxes so that the state can finance the prenatal health care program (Legislative Bill 599 2011).
In the event that the bill is defeated and does not become law it would mean that thousands of illegal immigrants would not be eligible to receive prenatal health services financed by the state or offered by Medicare and Medicaid services. As a result a large population of the immigrant population will be left without any adequate health cover which will probably result into increased cases of childbirth complications such as low birth weight which would have been easily detected during prenatal care. It is estimated that for every dollar invested in prenatal health care services offered to illegal immigrants the state saves about four dollars from complications that would arise from childbirth (Legislative Bill 599 2011).
Testimony for the bill/interim resolution.
The bill takes note that the unborn child does not pose any immigration status and as a result they are not covered by the Nebraska laws in section 4-108. The bill also acknowledges that the prenatal health care services accessible pursuant to SCHIP available for unborn infants whose admissibility is independent of the parents admissibility and immigration status are not encompassed in the limitations imposed by the statute laws of Nebraska section 4-108. The bill intends to facilitate state efforts to commence and expand child health care to the uninsured and children from low income families. A child is defined as a person below the age of 19 years and includes the duration from conception to childbirth. The child is eligible irrespective of the mothers eligibility or immigration status. The bill intends to cover prenatal health care and other pregnancy associated services that are directly related to the health and welfare of the unborn child (Legislative Bill 599 2011).
The bill acknowledges that prenatal health care offered to expectant women significantly reduces the chances of premature deliveries or causes of low birth weight which are mostly linked to a broad range of genetic disabilities and infant mortality. Prenatal health care services facilitate the detection of various adverse and even fatal disabilities most of which can presently be effectively treated in the uterus. Prenatal health care offers ultimate financial cost savings to the government through reduced costs related to neonatal and probable long term health rehabilitation. It is also known to improve the general health and life of infants resulting in healthy growth and development in infants (Legislative Bill 599 2011).
The bill advocates for the establishment of a separate process that allowed via SCHIP to cater for prenatal health care. The process also caters for other complications related to pregnancy directly linked to the health of the unborn infant. The processes include catering for all professional fees related to labor and delivery administration of pharmaceutical drugs and prescription of vitamin supplements. Other processes include Provision of outpatient health care provision of lab testing when required and facilitation of ultrasounds and radiology. The process may also involve the provision of services associated with conditions that have a potential risk to the maturity of pregnancy and the possible treatment of complications that pose a risk to safe delivery of the pregnancy. It also encompasses other pregnancy associated services that may be approved by the health department. An exception is provided for services such as optometry dentistry and other medical conditions that affect the mother and are not directly related to the unborn child which are not covered with the bill (Legislative Bill 599 2011).
A letter to the state senator.
Dear Senator Campbell
RE: LEGISLATIVE BILL 599.
I am writing to inform you that I have read the above proposed bill and I would like to make a personal contribution to the ongoing debate. I believe that the bill when enacted will ensure that all infants and mothers irrespective of their immigrant statuswill get access to quality and efficient prenatal health care services. I am proud about your efforts in advocating for the bill. This new law will ensure that no unborn child shall be denied access to prenatal health care basing on the immigrant status of the mother. With these few remarks I beg to support the bill.
Yours faithfully.”
