DRUG-WAR BILLS: UMC DESERVES FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

We can expect even more Juarez drug-war victims to be treated at our
University Medical Center in 2010 -- some at El Paso taxpayers'
expense. That's what the trend shows.

These are victims UMC is required to treat; it's federal law. Hospitals
must treat all who come to their door in emergency situations.

Since these are persons shot amid a foreign drug war, we think we deserve
financial assistance from Washington for treatment of foreign nationals who
do not pay their bills. We urge Congressman Silvestre Reyes to champion
that cause.

It's understood that many of the victims are U.S. citizens. That in
itself is scary news. It goes to show that the drug violence is, in a
different sort of way, spilling over the border.

Here are some grim numbers released by UMC:

In 2008, the hospital treated 50 Juarez drug-war victims, totaling $1.4
million in hospital bills. There were an estimated 1,600
assassination-style deaths reported in Juarez.

In 2009, UMC treated 89 such patients, although the estimated cost was down
a little, to $836,000. There were an estimated 2,600 deaths last year in
Juarez.

Now the rate of killings has increased again. In the first two weeks of
2010, more than 110 deaths have been reported.

It is right that persons who require emergency care be treated upon showing
up at a U.S. hospital.

In this special case -- so many gunshot victims -- we believe Reyes should
push hard for federal financial assistance if foreign nationals' don't pay
their hospital bills.