Federal cuts that have left refugee claimants with little to no health coverage are expected to come at a high cost to Hamiltons health system.

Many area health care providers continue to care for refugee claimants at the expense of their bottom line since the cuts to the interim federal health program took effect June 30.

My background is to treat patients that need you regardless of whether they have funding or not, said Dr. Allen Greenspoon, a family doctor at the Hamilton Community Health Centre on Victoria Avenue North. My first and foremost commitment is to patients. We just see patients if they need our help.

Health Minister Deb Matthews estimates caring for refugees cost $1.3 million at one Toronto hospital alone. Hamilton is also bracing to be hit hard as one of Ontarios top destinations for newcomers.

Its not sustainable to continue to see patients without funding, said Greenspoon. There has to be a proper plan in place to treat patients as necessary.

Hamiltons hospitals and the Maternity Centre of Hamilton have all said they wont turn refugee claimants away. Theyll try to work out payment plans with them but are aware theyll likely end up absorbing a lot of bad debts. About 10 per cent of the maternity centres 800 patients a year are funded by the interim federal health program.

Its not going to unhinge us, said Claudia Steffler, the centres unit director. But it is something that factors into the big schemeof keeping things afloat.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said during her first trip to Hamilton this week that the health care system simply cant afford to care for refugee claimants.

We plan for our health-care system with our population, she said. What we dont do is plan for a health-care system of non Canadians. I think this is about fairness to Canadians and Canadians would expect that.

Ontarios health minister counters that the move only saves the federal government money while putting a tremendous burden on the provincial health care systems.

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Cuts to refugee claimant care costing Hamilton’s health system