AMA mulls repatriation of uninsured

The American Medical Association voted Monday to study whether uninsured immigrant patients should be repatriated by hospitals (Source: “Doctors Study Repatriation of Uninsured,” New York Times, Nov. 11, 2008).

The decision by AMA’s House of Delegates to look into the matter came after the California Medical Association voted in October to oppose forced repatriation of patients. However, AMA officials say they were not ready to follow the CMA's lead and take a firm stand on the issue.

“It’s too complex a subject for us to come up with a one- or two-sentence reaction,” Dr. Joseph Annis, an American Medical Association trustee, said. “On the one hand, patients shouldn’t be dumped. On the other, hospitals need to be solvent. After all, if the care of these patients were actually paid for by some entity, these repatriations would not be happening and this would not be an issue.”