1. a) What does federal law require hospitals to do with anyone who shows up in a hospital emergency room?
b) Does this law apply to emergency care only?

2. a) List the states that border Mexico.
b) How much money did the hospitals in the 24 border counties of these states lose because of unpaid bills for emergency medical care in 2000?

3. a) How much money did border state Senators get Congress to set aside to reimburse hospitals for the unpaid hospital bills?
b) Where did congress get this money?
c) Senator Kyl (R-Ariz.) says that Congress should help hospitals financially because it is the fair thing to do. What reason does he give?

4. What is CMS? b) What is the total amount CMS is authorized to pay out to hospitals every year?
c) How much did CMS pay out to hospitals the first year?
d) Why has CMS only made partial reimbursements to the hospitals mentioned in this article?

5. In what ways are hospitals reacting to the unrecouped costs of treating illegal immigrants?

6. In your opinion, does the federal government have a responsibility to provide a long-term solution to this problem?