Balancing Principles In Favor of Life

Details: 05 March 2010

One of the important and “hot” pro-life issues in our Legislature this session is whether Nebraska should continue providing prenatal services to unborn children of undocumented mothers. Nebraska has been providing these important services for three decades under Medicaid.

The federal government, however, notified Nebraska late last year that prenatal services cannot be provided under Medicaid to unborn children in their own right; eligibility for these services is based on the pregnant mother, and undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid.

Nevertheless, Nebraska can continue to provide this benefit if it relies upon the “unborn child option” under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Under CHIP, unborn children are viewed as recipients of prenatal services in their own right, regardless of their mothers’ immigration status.

Legislative Bill 1110 was introduced by Sen. Kathy Campbell to authorize our state Health and Human Services Division to apply for this option. Unfortunately, this bill and the senators who are inclined to support it are being subjected to a lot of heat from individuals who oppose providing any assistance to illegal immigrants. Sadly, Governor Dave Heineman is among those expressing opposition to LB 1110.

There certainly are legitimate concerns about our state not enacting policy that encourages illegal behavior. Having (and enforcing) an orderly and just immigration policy is important. However, as with any law, when its application puts vulnerable human lives in jeopardy, there must be a balancing of principles in favor of human life.

An example of a proper balancing between care for vulnerable human lives and adherence to immigration policy already exists in our society. When an illegal immigrant is in need of urgent medical attention we care for them. Our society has correctly decided that caring for a vulnerable person takes precedence over the fact that the person is in our country illegally.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, representing the three Bishops of Nebraska, testified in favor of LB 1110 saying that it is our “firmly held view… that continuing to provide prenatal services to unborn children, regardless of their mothers’ immigration status” is another example of this proper balance.

The Conference said this “is an important and urgent pro-life matter. Denying prenatal care coverage in these circumstances of family poverty is an affront to human dignity and a terrible injustice, which could do great harm to the lives of children at a very vulnerable stage in their development. What’s worse, the lack of coverage for such care could be a decisive factor in leading some pregnant women to choose abortion over childbirth.”

The Conference testimony also responded to those concerned about providing prenatal care and services to unborn children of undocumented mothers. “It must be emphasized,” it said, “that the true and ultimate beneficiary of this coverage is not the mother but her unborn child, who is not an illegal immigrant and who will soon be a U.S. citizen upon his/her birth.

“The immigration status of the mother should not adversely affect the health and well being of the unborn child. Assisting the unborn child, a presumptive citizen, to have a healthier start to life makes sense not only from an economic standpoint, since this child’s healthcare needs are likely to be greater without the benefit of prenatal care and services, but from a human rights standpoint as well.

LB 1110 received a public hearing last week and it is our hope that the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will soon advance the bill for consideration by the full Legislature. It could be critical to the enactment of this bill that senators receive a strong message of support from their constituents. It could be equally critical that Governor Heineman receives a similarly strong message of support for LB 1110.

I urge all Catholic Nebraskans to call or e-mail their state senator and Governor Heineman and urge them to support LB 1110; to embrace a proper balance of principles in favor of human life. Senators can be contacted online at www.nebraskalegislature.gov or by calling 402-471-2311. The Governor can be contacted at www.governor.nebraska.gov or at 402-471-2244.