Arizona Hospital on the Brink of Collapse after Spending $20 Million on Migrant Care
The Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona is facing a critical situation as the influx of migrant patients has put a strain on the hospital's resources, resulting in an estimated $20 million in uncompensated care. Despite the efforts of the hospital's president and CEO, Dr. Robert Transchel, to seek funding from the city, state, and federal government, the issue remains unresolved, leaving the hospital with an unsustainable model.
"We've provided $20 million in care to the migrants that are crossing the border and we just don't have a payer source for those individuals. It's not a sustainable model to have these continued rising expenses without a revenue source to offset that," said Dr. Transchel in an interview with Fox News.
The $20 million cost of care does not even include the expenses associated with the increased staffing, flight costs, and infrastructure that the hospital has had to add to accommodate the influx of migrants. In fact, Dr. Transchel pointed out that migrants have been the only patients at the hospital who have received free care.
The situation at the Yuma Regional Medical Center highlights the broader humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border. As migrants continue to cross the border, the hospital and its staff are left to bear the consequences of a problem that has yet to be solved.
In addition to the financial burden, the maternity unit of the hospital has reached capacity, forcing them to delay planned inductions for their residents. The nearest hospital located 60 miles away has stopped performing labor and delivery care, leaving the Yuma Regional Medical Center as the only option for many migrant patients, many of whom are pregnant.
"We just don't have a payer source. Everybody is sympathetic, and everybody lends a listening ear, but nobody has a solution," said Dr. Transchel.
This situation highlights the need for a comprehensive solution to address the crisis at the US-Mexico border. The Yuma Regional Medical Center and its staff are facing a difficult situation, and it is time for the city, state, and federal government to come together and provide a solution that will ensure the sustainability of the hospital and the care of all patients, including those who are migrants.
In conclusion, the Yuma Regional Medical Center is facing a critical situation, and it is essential that the government takes immediate action to address this humanitarian crisis and provide a solution that will ensure the sustainability of the hospital and the care of all patients.
