House Member Protests Proposed Health Care Rule

Wednesday, October 10th 2007, 5:29 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Governor Brad Henry said Wednesday he would sign a proposed rule to allow the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to pay for prenatal care of pregnant women who are illegal immigrants.

The federal government requires states to pay for the delivery of babies of illegal immigrants, who otherwise do not qualify for Medicaid.

The newborns become U.S. citizens at birth and are covered by Medicaid if their families meet certain income levels.

A dozen states, including neighboring Arkansas and Texas, currently pay for prenatal care of women who do not have legal status in the United States.

``The governor views this as a pro-life, pro-health issue,'' said Paul Sund, spokesman for Henry. ``By providing prenatal care, we can encourage an expectant mother to carry her baby to term and ensure that the child, a U.S. and Oklahoma citizen, gets a healthy start in life.

``We can also save taxpayers money in the long run by heading off the kind of complications and accompanying medical costs that are often associated with children who do not receive prenatal care.''

The governor's office responded after Representative Randy Terrill, R-Oklahoma City, protested the proposed rule, saying it runs counter to a law he sponsored to crack down on benefits to illegal immigrants.

``Like most pro-life lawmakers, I believe life begins at conception and a child in the womb should be treated as a human being,'' he said. ``However, that is not the same thing as being a legal citizen of this state or nation.''

Senator Tom Adeleson, D-Tulsa, disagreed. ``It is morally reprehensible to deny prenatal care to innocent unborn children, who through no fault of their own, have no access to prenatal care. The fact is, it's a matter of life or death.''

A spokeswoman said the Health Care Authority would consider the rule on Thursday.

According to a fact sheet released by the agency, studies show that prenatal care can save $1 to $3 in the first year of life for each $1 spent on prenatal care.

The state paid $8.5 million for the delivery of 2,778 children of illegal immigrants in 2006.