Report: Military airlift of quake victims halted

[January 30, 2010]  MIAMI (AP) -- The U.S. military says it has halted flights carrying Haitian earthquake victims to the United States in a dispute over medical care costs.

The New York Times reported Saturday the evacuations were suspended Wednesday after Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked the federal government to help pay for care.

Military officials say Florida has treated over 500 quake victims. They say airlifts to other states treating victims have been halted, too.

Crist's request doesn't indicate how much victims' care is costing Florida. But the cases' number and complexity could mean a price tag in the millions of dollars.

Military officials say airlifts were halted because hospitals were rejecting new patients. But Florida officials deny that's the case at the state's hospitals.

[Associated Press]

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