- Denver’s main hospital provided $136 million worth of care for which they received no compensation, leaving the facility in a ‘critical’ phase
- In total, 8,000 migrants coming to the city from Central America made about 20,000 visits to the health care system, causing problems for Denver Health
- These include travel for dental emergencies, mental health care and childbirth
Denver’s migrant crisis has plunged the city’s main public hospital deep into the red after patients received $130 million in treatment they could not pay for.
Denver Health ended 2022 with a $35 million loss, and the most recent year would have been even worse if the state hadn’t injected $20 million in cash.
The increase in costs coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants crossing the U.S. border and arriving in Denver.
Dr. Taylor McCormick, associate director of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine at Denver Health, The Denver Gazette: ‘Generally speaking, these patients do not have health insurance. Denver Health is covering the costs for many of these visits.”
CEO Donna Lynne told the council last week that the hospital had provided $136 million in care for which it received no compensation.
Denver Health ended 2022 with a $35 million loss, and the most recent year would have been even worse if the state hadn’t had a $20 million cash infusion
The increase in costs coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants crossing the U.S. border and arriving in Denver
That $135 million figure includes care for people covered by Medicaid, and $100 million of the unpaid bills was paid by Denver residents, not immigrants.
Lynne said, “What I don’t think is being said is that Denver Health is at a critical point, and we need to pick this up in 2024.
“Because our costs exceed our revenues, we turn away patients every day, especially in the mental health and substance abuse areas.
“While I have tremendous sympathy for what is going on, it is heartbreaking and is destroying Denver Health.”
While the hospital has yet to calculate final numbers for 2023, executives have said they will need more support to continue operating as is.
Dr. Steve Federico, head of government and community affairs, told the Greeley Grandstand: ‘If we were to have another year like (2022), it would have serious consequences.’
Lynne said 8,000 migrants who came to the city from Central America made about 20,000 visits to the health care system.
These include travel for dental emergencies, mental health care and childbirth.
The city estimates that more than 36,000 migrants have arrived in the city since December 2022.
Venezuelan migrants wait in line for food from a food truck at a migrant processing center in Denver, Colorado on May 9, 2023
The city estimates that more than 36,000 migrants have arrived in the city since December 2022
State Rep. Judy Amabile has sponsored a bill in the state House that would require Colorado to financially support Denver Health with $5 million each year.
It comes as Denver 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 by about 15 percent to cover the costs.
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.