Agency backs care for illegal immigrant moms

By Devona Walker
Published: October 12, 2007

ADA — Despite pending immigration enforcement reform, the state will soon provide prenatal care to undocumented immigrant women who are pregnant.

Members of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority voted 6-1 Thursday to approve the rule change.

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Now, undocumented women are prohibited from Medicaid prenatal services. The rule takes effect Jan.1.

The financial impact of the decision is about $3 million a year, with $1.19 million coming from the state.

State health care officials say the rule change ultimately will save money by reducing the need for postnatal care.

"I am very pleased with the vote,” said Michael Fogarty, the authority's chief executive officer. "This has been a high priority on the part of medical providers and advocates of children.”

The lone dissenting vote came from Board Chairman Lyle Roggow, an economic development director from Duncan.

"Basically, it came down to fiscal responsibilities, and these are illegal aliens,” Roggow said. "I felt like I was being a steward of the taxpayers' money.”

State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore — co-author of HB 1804, Oklahoma's immigration enforcement legislation that goes into effect Nov. 1 — also opposed the rule change.

"It clearly runs contrary to state legislative intent,” Terrill said, adding that HB 1804 is designed to reduce "welfare benefits” for illegal immigrants.

Terrill said the Health Care Authority has unsuccessfully attempted to extend prenatal coverage to undocumented women through the Legislature for two years. Thursday's vote was an attempt to circumvent state law, he said.

"They ought to be working with me to reduce or eliminate welfare benefits for illegal immigrants, not expand them,” he said.

What's the effect?
Federal law requires the state to provide "safety net” services for the indigent poor, including children born in the U.S. to alien parents. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that undocumented pregnant women who do not receive care are nearly four times as likely to deliver low birth-weight infants and seven times as likely to deliver prematurely as undocumented women who received prenatal care.

For every dollar cut from prenatal care programs, the journal estimates a $3.33 increase in the cost of postnatal care and $4.63 in incremental long-term cost.

At Numbers USA, anti-illegal immigration think tank, the primary concern is the automatic citizenship offered to these children and, more indirectly, their parents. It says the 14th Amendment — essentially granting citizenship to any child born on American soil — is being misinterpreted to include the children of illegal immigrants.

The children, often referred to as "anchor babies,” provide an enticement for illegal immigration into the U.S, said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for the group.

"The fact is that when the child turns 18, they can then sponsor their relatives for permanent U.S. residency,” Jenks said. "I know that's a long way off... but there are people who come here just to have children on U.S. soil.”

It is estimated that 300,000 U.S. citizens are born annually to illegal alien parents. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority reports it is delivering 2,767 babies each year to illegal parents.

Though Numbers USA disputes the validity of citizenship being granted to those children, it stops short of saying the government should deny prenatal care.

"The enticement is the citizenship, not the prenatal care,” Jenks said. "Would we deny prenatal services to pregnant, undocumented women? No,” Jenks said. "There are just some things that as a civilized society we are compelled to do.”


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So the new bill is for prenatal care. Well after the "new citizen" is born..they are elgible for medicaid, welfare, food stamps, wicc, etc. Now what? Well I guess we have to pay for that cause they are "Citizens". If their parent are illegal...they should be illegal!!!!!
K, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2007 2:43 PM
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Valerie I would much rather pay for prenatal care than the unnecessary war in Iraq.
amy, oklahoma city - Oct 13, 2007 6:43 PM
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valerie, i dont need to invest in it....my elected officials make sure it gets done. i know i had to pay in the whereabouts of 15k for each of my kids births. what the government does with the money i send them every year is none of my concern. i told my elected officials that it would be nice to see it go to health care, helping less fortunate folks, education, roads, bridges, better airport security, more police and firefighters.....etc.. well none of what i want to happen happened...and the same guys that go to their big churches and ask for the votes keep getting elected valerie...what am i supposed to do? and i f you would like to compare incomes and taxes paid..come on over...mine will make you cry.
Randy, Moore - Oct 13, 2007 1:02 PM
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Amy, Todd, Amber, and everyone else that thinks this is a great way to spend our tax dollars. How much of YOUR money have you invested in making sure illegal immigrants get prenatal care?
valerie, cordell - Oct 13, 2007 10:52 AM
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Hey Rufus,a baby is a baby no matter what label you place on him/her.I think that I would want my tax dollars going to the care of a baby rather than an $800.00 toilet seat in some Federal building somewhere. Bet when you heard about that you didnt grumble too loudly against it. I am all for healthy babies. Go babies!!
amy, oklahoma city - Oct 12, 2007 6:44 PM
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Read the article. Even the governmental director of an anti-immigration think tank understands that pre-natal care is not the issue and that providing such care is what a "civilized society" is "compelled to do." This isn't about their immigration status. OK Health Care Authority isn't not the authoritative body on immigration. Their concern is making sure that we don't pay in the long run for children born without proper care. Long-standing legal precedent establishes that every baby born on U.S. soil is a legal U.S. citizen. Until that precedent changes, governing bodies will act accordingly. Our beef shouldn't be with them. It should be with the federal government who sets those mandates. I'm sure if the federal laws change, their policies will change accordingly.
Todd, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2007 1:03 PM
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If a person crawled through barbed wire, swam a river and road in a cramped truck with 50 other illegals to get here, they don't belong, nor should they get any tax subsidized freebies to encourage them. This is not about saving money, get real, they would leave if we cut them off, thus not even being an issue because they would not be here. OHCA can crunch numbers to make it look anyway they want, they have no credibility with the people of this great state.
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 12:34 PM
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I agree with Amy and Joe. This vote was about saving money. Read the article. For every $1 of prenatal care, we will save $3.33 on postnatal care and $4.63 in long term care costs. But I assume that many of you would like to stand at the doors of an emergency room and profile people based on how they look and turn them away if they don't have "proper identification." Sorry, but the last thing we need is women delivering babies on the streets. Have some compassion people!! This vote DOES SAVE taxpayer money in the end. We can't turn people away from healthcare. I consider that cruel and unusual punishment, which we cannot do even if illegal immigrants are "breaking the law."
Amber, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2007 12:28 PM
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Am I missing something here? The primary point of this issue is how to use our money efficiently. If it’s proven that providing prenatal care would reduce the cost of natal care overall then we need to do it. The existing laws require us to provide basic natal care for every mother in this country therefore we need to figure out the best way to do it. What we need to ask ourselves is the validity of “the study” and how they came up with the conclusion that we would save money by applying the new rule? Bringing the “illegal immigrants” factors to this issue not only unnecessarily stirs up people but also distracts our attention from the main issue, “the validity of the study”. We need to focus our efforts to resolve the illegal immigrant issues at the appropriate areas such as borders, employment, education etc...
trung, oklahoma city - Oct 12, 2007 12:08 PM
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Representative Leo Berman has authored Bill HB28 in the TX legislature. The bill, if passed, would deny benefits to children born to illegal aliens. The purpose of the bill is to spark a fight so the bill ends up in the Federal Courts and ultimately the Supreme Court. The purpose is to determine if children born in this country to illegal aliens automatically become USA citizens. The ramifications are enormous if the Courts determine children born to illegal aliens are not automatically deemed USA citizens. It would automatically end Anchor Babies and all of the associated taxpayer costs.

The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution was written to guarantee children of slaves would be US Citizens. That amendment has since been loosely interpreted to mean any child born in the USA of parents not USA citizens would automatically be citizens.

Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 12:01 PM
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Representative Leo Berman has authored Bill HB28 in the TX legislature. The bill, if passed, would deny benefits to children born to illegal aliens. The purpose of the bill is to spark a fight so the bill ends up in the Federal Courts and ultimately the Supreme Court. The purpose is to determine if children born in this country to illegal aliens automatically become USA citizens. The ramifications are enormous if the Courts determine children born to illegal aliens are not automatically deemed USA citizens. It would automatically end Anchor Babies and all of the associated taxpayer costs.

The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution was written to guarantee children of slaves would be US Citizens. That amendment has since been loosely interpreted to mean any child born in the USA of parents not USA citizens would automatically be citizens.

Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 12:00 PM
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I think we forget the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has not control over controlling illegal immigration in Oklahoma The federal government requires them to provide labor and delivery services. This means that even without this new rule, the state is required by the feds to pay for labor and delivery for undocumented moms. Plus, once the kids are born, the kids are entitled to full Medicaid benefits. The Health Care Authority is trying to save money in the long run by making sure these babies are born healthy so we don't have to keep paying and paying for something that might have been prevented with preventative care.
Todd, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2007 11:53 AM
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THANK YOU AMY!
joe, clinton - Oct 12, 2007 11:13 AM
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Amy, that's fine that you would want to spend YOUR tax dollars on this, I just don't want MINE spent on it. They should go back to their countries and let their own Governments handle it and their citizens foot the bill. That's why the Mexican government doesn't want the reforms, their people will go home and the USA will no longer be paying for it.
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 11:11 AM
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I think everyone should re-read that what OHCA is proposing is for PRE-Natal care-it does not say paying for anything else...that is why I agree we do need reforms and illegals do not need to stay...but for the ones that are here and expecting, can we not be compassionate enough to care about an innocent life? Also, the immigrants that are here legally are willing to work for less and if you don't like that-vote for some change that will drive them away-but-just remember that when the price you pay for whatever skyrockets...I don't know what the answer is to all of this is but we need to work together for some solution and not come off sounding ignorant and racist.
joe, clinton - Oct 12, 2007 11:11 AM
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I am one that does not mind my tax dollars going to pay for the prenatal care of anyone. If this means that the unborn child will be born healthy and well I am all for it. I do not mind my tax dollars going to eduacte any child I am all for it. If a person calls themselves prolife then you must be prolife for all the babies not just the legal ones. And Brian, are you married? Do you have children? Did you or would you deny your wife prenatal care? Heck yeah what good is prenatal care? Or did you mean why waste prenatal care on an illegal and their icky unborn baby? Tsk tsk tsk.
amy, oklahoma city - Oct 12, 2007 11:04 AM
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seaboard farms and the destruction of Guymon is a prime example of the use of illegals and corporate greed. read this...http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989675-7,00.html
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 10:40 AM
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Joe in Clinton, here is your answer: My nephew will cook my fajitas, as he is a cook in a local restaurant and he also washes the dishes; my neighbor will lay the brick as he has done for over 20 years; my husband will build the house as he is a carpenter and has been for 30 years; my best friend will sweep the halls as she is a housekeeper for several families! My daughter, although she does not work in a factory will do whatever she has to do to make the minimum wage that she makes because she knows she has to work to pay for her healthcare! All of these people I have mentioned are LEGAL citizens! If there were not so many flippin' illegals here that will work for less than minimum wage, perhaps she could make more than minimum wage! Don't you get it? These people are here taking jobs from LEGAL citizens for less pay than what is LEGAL! Do you think that people who are legal citizens don't want a better life too? Is is just illegal immigrants who are trying to "improve their life"? They are here illegally yet we reward them with free healthcare! Does it not bother you that your tax dollars are being spent on someone who is breaking the law?
Pam, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2007 10:32 AM
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The 14th amendment was never intended for an illegal to illegally cross the border and 5 minutes later have an anchor baby. Britian and France have repealed their laws for the same abuses of this in the USA years ago. We need to repeal ours also, only legal residents who have babies should be legal citizens.
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 10:28 AM
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Those jobs the "no one else will do" were created by the passing of right to work laws and busting of labor unions to allow illegals to come and work for peanuts, thus pushing citizens out of the way for greedy corporations to get rich..
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 10:25 AM
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Here is what I don't understand about Terrill & others like him, IF you are pro-life & support making an incubator out of a woman due to "sanctity of life", how can you deny taking care of a 'legal citizen' in the womb? I call it a double standard! As for citizenship for the child born on US soil, there is no 'approval' process to make these children citizens. By US LAW any person born on US soil is a US citizen. If you don't like it, vote someone into office who will change that law. Until them you would do well to recognize that most, if not all, of our founding fathers gained their US citizenship in this way.
Concerned, Central Oklahoma - Oct 12, 2007 10:25 AM
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What you mean Jamie, is these people break several laws, they are here illegally, they are using someone else's SSN (identity fraud) and they don't claim their wages when their dependents can go claim welfare benefits. Screw the fruit in California, let legal status immigrants pick it.
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 10:23 AM
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I agree with Joe, I work in construction and these guys DO pay taxes contrary to popular opinion. But what they don't generally do is file their taxes, meanig all the money they pay in and all the money employers pay in on their behalf is KEPT by the gov't INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY. Think about all that money leaving! On top of that, the pool of workers will be diminished and we will all have to pay more for services and food. Who do you think is going to pick all the fruit in California? There has to be a better way.
Jamie, yukon - Oct 12, 2007 10:15 AM
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O.K.,as I said before I do support immigration reform, but some of you had better stop and think before we "send 'em all packin", who will cook your fajitas, wash those dishes, lay the bricks, build the houses, sweep the halls, work in the factories for minimum and sometimes below minimum wages? The sad fact is immigrants take these jobs to improve their life because the jobs are available to them...why? because they want to work, and employers cannot fill these jobs otherwise... I think part of the reform should close the loop hole regarding "anchor citizens"...(2) like it or not, gambling and the lottery is here and so what if they hung lottery tickets on a tree...it does not matter how the tree is decorated as long as you remember the real meaning of Christmas. So Steven in Guthrie, come on out to Clinton, I'll show you how we live in a culturally diverse city, heck, I'll even buy you a burrito....
joe, clinton - Oct 12, 2007 9:57 AM
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The OHCA needs to be dismantled and duties given to other agencies in Oklahoma. They can then join the Peace Corp and go to other countries and provide prenatal care and other free benefits out of their own pockets.
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 9:52 AM
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I'm just going to throw away all my ID drop my car insurance let my license expire and quit paying any taxes at all move to Capital Hill and change my name to Pedro. Is this a Great State or what...
Herron, Blanchard - Oct 12, 2007 9:42 AM
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That is the liberal way, they really are quite smart. They always attach something good such as a Christmas tree (or something for the children) to their agenda pushing bills, that way when someone votes against it they can say see how bad they are. The minute people hear children for for the innocent children and especially babies, they immediately lose sight of anything that goes along with it.
Brian, Shawnee - Oct 12, 2007 9:25 AM
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Joe in Clinton. Do you really understand the full implications? Once they are born they become the 'anchor' for the relatives to come up here and try to attain citizenship. They actually plan (and if you doubt it you have very little exposure to the illegal community)to have their babies in the US for that very purpose. And know we are going to pay for it.

The tree that the Rep. protested was covered with lottery tickets!!! It was promoting the lottery and gambling instead of Christmas. What a scrooge huh?
Steven, Guthrie - Oct 12, 2007 9:19 AM
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OHHH OK. So now I get it! My 72 year old mother, who worked all her life, was born in Oklahoma and receives a very small SS check only gets minimal health care benefits because some female got herself pregnant and decided to come to Oklahoma to have that child and she is gets the free healthcare that my Mother is not allowed to have. I'm so proud to live in a place where hard work, doing things legally and paying your taxes is penalized while doing things illegally is rewarded! I wish someone would have explained this to me 30 years ago!
Pam, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2007 9:09 AM
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The way I see it Mr. Terrill is the only one that has the guts to stand up for the people that elected him. Sure the innocent children.. blah blah and i understand all that, but you people act like it is impossible for a child to be born without prenatal care. How on earth did the human race survive before prenatal health care. This type of care, while beneficial, is not absolutely necessary for a woman to give birth. Also that child while a human being from the moment of conception is not a U.S. citizen until it is actually born, so the entire thought that this child IS a citizen is absurd. Thanks for screwing the taxpayer and real citizens once again, but at least we will know who not to vote for in the next elections.
Brian, Shawnee - Oct 12, 2007 9:01 AM
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Here are the Morons that voted for this, looks like they were all appointed to their positions. http://www.ohca.state.ok.us/about.aspx?id=324
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 8:53 AM
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Wait, before everyone jumps down my throat... I am for immigration reform! But, my point is about an unborn child who does not have a voice in the matter...proper prenatal care will ensure a fighting chance at life...I'm talking about the ones already here. I'm NOT saying come here for free benefits. We do need to remember America which Oklahoma is a part of, is a melting pot of cultures and that is what makes us great. Illegal immigration has gotten out of hand and needs to be addressed, BUT, please have compassion when it comes to a childs life.
joe, clinton - Oct 12, 2007 8:28 AM
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Joe, I don't think you are getting the big picture here. The ILLEGAL pregnant women are using American tax payer dollars. Sure every baby deserves a chance, but this will ensure that more and more ILLEGALs will be coming here to have their babies. It defeats the purpose of immigration.
Christina, oklahoma city - Oct 12, 2007 8:09 AM
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wow. alot of really great ideas and opinions have been expressed. i seems to me that the border states would be the ones to step up and do something about illegal immigrants. but we surely cannot be so ugly as to deny people health care. our elected leaders are the heart of the problem. we citizens still have no health care and they spend millions just to talk about it. to me health care is at the heart of this issue. and my rep....randy terrill has not gotten any of his voters health care. a matter of fact hes done nothing but remove a kids christmas tree, post his campaign signs illegally, and anger people with his lies. the immigration problem starts at the border folks....not at the mcdonalds kitchen. our tax money is being poorly managed at every level of government. but it is good to know that a little gets spent on nice things....like bringing a baby into the world.
Randy, Moore - Oct 12, 2007 1:35 PM
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The taxpayers money spent by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (aka imcompetent morons who should be disbanded) should go to Legal Oklahoma Residents, not Illegals. Let the take their selves home and take that foriegn flag with them..
Rufus, spencer - Oct 12, 2007 7:51 AM
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Thanks Todd for reminding me who this jack*?s Terrill is. I saw the news on this last night and cannot believe the show this guy puts on! We are talking about innocent, unborn children who if given proper prenatal care have a fighting chance to live. I guess butterball Terrill never went hungry but he needs to look beyond his nose before he starts spewing his conservative dribble on the rest of us. This guy needs to be voted out of office next time he's up for reelection ASAP! Just be ready, Christmas is coming up and I'm sure grinch Terrill will be on patrol. Lordy, what a pathetic excuse of a man he is....
joe, clinton - Oct 12, 2007 7:36 AM
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and last thing randy did before this immigration fiasco was to take down a 5th grade christmas tree at an elementry school. thanks randy ..school have always been a bully's stomping ground. way to go randy...need some more money?
Randy, Moore - Oct 12, 2007 2:24 AM
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Randy, Moore - Oct 12, 2007 2:23 AM
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thank you mrs. jenks. you are doing great! now not only is terrill a baby killer...he is a grinch as well. what a joke. thanks for such great representation mr terrill..... NOW WHERES MY GRANDMOTHERS HEALTH CARE!!!!
Randy, Moore - Oct 12, 2007 2:23 AM
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