In an alarming revelation, the city of Denver, despite not experiencing a massive influx of illegal immigrants compared to some border states, is grappling with a healthcare system on the verge of collapse. Denver Health, the city’s healthcare provider, has been forced to reduce the number of available beds and turn away patients due to providing over $130 million in uncompensated care to migrants. The strain on Denver Health’s resources highlights the consequences of the Biden administration’s lax border policies.
Despite Denver receiving millions in one-time donations and managing to break even last year, the healthcare system still faces financial challenges. Denver Health lost about $2 million in 2022 and would have fared significantly worse without a cash infusion of around $20 million from the state, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, and private donors. The healthcare provider is calculating final 2023 numbers, and projections indicate further financial struggles.
Denver Health provided approximately $136 million in uncompensated care in 2023, contributing to the financial strain. The hospital cut costs by closing beds for psychiatric and addiction treatment patients, reducing planned employee raises, and postponing clinic renovations. While hospitals typically offset uncompensated care through higher rates charged to private insurance, Denver Health’s patient demographic, with less than 15% having private coverage, limits this approach.
The financial challenges faced by Denver Health highlight the economic tradeoffs associated with limited resources. As the United States deals with a surge of illegal immigrants, the strain on healthcare resources becomes evident. The sanctuary approach, driven by the belief that kindness alone will suffice, ignores the reality of limited resources and their impact on legal residents and citizens.
The financial burdens extend beyond Denver, with the Colorado Hospital Association reporting that around 72% of hospitals in the state had “unsustainable” profit margins below 4% on patient care. The strain on healthcare resources, combined with the intentional opening of borders, raises concerns about the systematic destruction of society. The consequences for Americans are devastating, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of border policies and a focus on the well-being of legal residents and citizens.