Denver’s primary public hospital is grappling with a financial crisis as it provided $136 million worth of treatments to around 8,000 migrants from Central America. With 20,000 visits for services ranging from dental emergencies to mental health counseling, Denver Health is facing a critical stage, having incurred a $2 million loss in 2022. Despite a $20 million injection from the state, the hospital system warns of dire consequences if the trend persists, emphasizing the strain caused by the ongoing migrant crisis on healthcare resources.
via dailymail.co.uk:
“The migrant crisis in Denver has plunged the city’s main public hospital deep into the red after patients received $136 million in treatment they couldn’t pay for.
Denver Health lost $2 million in 2022 – but that was substantially-reduced by a $20 million cash injection from the state.
In 2022, the hospital system lost $35 million, with bosses warning of ‘dire consequences’ for the hospital if 2024 is as bad as the previous two.
The rise in costs has coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants who crossed America’s border and arrived in Denver. Around 36,000 have arrived so far – many of them bused from Texas – with 18,000 deciding to stay.
Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne said that 8,000 migrants who came to the city from Central America made around 20,000 visits to the health system.
These included trips for dental emergencies, mental health counseling and childbirth.
Dr. Taylor McCormick, associate director of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine at Denver Health, The Denver Gazette: ‘Overall, these patients don’t have medical insurance. Denver Health is eating the cost for many of these visits.'”