DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Health was already dealing with significant financial challenges, and the cost of migrant care is now adding to that.
Denver Health provided more than $130 million in uncompensated care last year. Leaders say about $10 million of that was for migrant care.
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From October through December, migrants made up about 10% of emergency department visits.
“One out of every four migrants that has come to Denver has come to Denver Health for healthcare, on average for about two and a half visits,” said Dr. Steve Federico, chief of government and community affairs for the hospital. “So, we saw 20,000 visits last year that we attributed to the migrant population. That’s a lot of care that we weren’t planning on giving.”
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That’s on top of all the uninsured Americans that Denver Health is already treating. Hospital CEO Donna Lynne said this is a crisis point.