The Truth Is DOA at "The Point"

Mark Hyman gives us yet another diatribe on how easy it is to be an undocumented immigrant in the United States. Too bad his facts are all wrong.

This time around, Hyman complains that the Massachusetts state healthcare system (MassHealth) has taken the draconian measure of forcing citizens to prove their identity before receiving benefits, while immigrants, including those in the country illegally, can simply ask for treatment and receive it.

I firmly believe that a compassionate society should provide
emergency medical services particularly for life-threatening injuries or illness
to everyone including non-citizens. MassHealth does just that. . .
.

However . . . illegal and legal aliens do not have to provide any
official documentation other than a signed statement that they fall within the
income guidelines to qualify for MassHealth coverage. . . .

What kind of thinking is behind a government program that requires U.S.
citizens to prove themselves but allows illegal aliens to be taken at their
word? See! There are benefits to breaking the law.

Those damn Massachusetts liberals coddling illegals while sticking it to honest citizens! How dare they?

Well, as a matter of fact, the reason they took this step is because of a law passed by the Republican Congress, largely along party lines, that is forcing them to do this. As part of the euphemistically titled Federal Deficit Reduction Act, state healthcare providers must make citizens prove their identity before receiving the treatment they’re due.

Since this is a federal law, it applies across the country, including in states like Florida (who’s the governor there, by the way?).

Moreover, Hyman is simply dishonest when he suggests that undocumented immigrants get the same treatment as legal citizens. MassHealth stipulates that they are eligible for emergency treatment. That’s it. In other words, it gives undocumented immigrants exactly what Hyman himself claims “a compassionate society” should provide.

Even legal immigrants are restricted as far as exactly what sorts of benefits they receive.

As shocked as you might be to hear this, Hyman is cynically taking an idiotic federal law passed by the GOP and blaming a famously blue state for following it, then fabricating evidence to engage in some good ol’ down home xenophobia.

As usual, Hyman’s argument and ethics are DOA.

And that’s The Counterpoint.

Hyman Index: 4.59