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.’
That $136 million unpaid includes care to people covered by Medicaid which was later reimbursed and $100 million of the unpaid bills were run up by Denver residents, not migrants.
Further clarification on how much was spent treating migrant patients who were unable to pay has not yet been shared.
Lynne said: ‘What I think is not being said is that Denver Health is at a critical, critical point, and that we need to take this up in 2024.
‘Because our costs exceed our revenues, we are turning down patients every day, particularly in the area of mental health and substance abuse.
‘While I have tremendous compassion for what’s going on, it’s heartbreaking, it’s going to break Denver Health.’
While the hospital is still to calculate their final numbers for 2023, executives have said they will require more support to continue operating as it has been.
Dr. Steve Federico, chief of government and community affairs, told the Greeley Tribune: ‘If we were to have another year like (2022), it would have dire consequences.’
State Rep. Judy Amabile has sponsored a bill in the statehouse which would commit Colorado to financially support Denver Health each year with $5 million.
It comes as Denver’s mayor Mike Johnston said he will call on Congress to take action to support the city in receiving migrants.
Mayor Johnston said migrant aid could cost the city $180 million this year and has asked departments to cut their budgets some 15 percent to pay for it.
As of Wednesday, 4,400 migrants were in Denver-run shelters across the city.
Mayor Johnson, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen will hold a press conference on Thursday.
