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 May Providence considers heart transplant program Does Portland need two heart transplant programs? Providence Portland Medical center may start a heart transplant program, which would compete with Oregon Health Sciences University. It has filed an application with the United Network for Organ Sharing, said Marcia Williams, spokeswoman. "We want to keep our options open and make sure Oregon has such a program." The real question is whether Portland needs two heart transplant centers. Dr. Donald Trunkey, who chairs OSHU's department of surgery, insists one program is sufficient and has suggested Providence work in collaboration with OSHU. "I'm trying to discourage Providence because you cannot justify two programs," Trunkey said. "It's part of a strategic arms race. The more you do, the better your outcomes." Gilmore heads purchasers coalition New director will help the coalition expand its membership and standardize its insurance plans. D'Anne Gilmore has left state government to become interim executive director of the Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers, which represents more than one million employees and their dependents. For the past three years, Gilmore has been deputy director of the Office of the Oregon Health Plan Policy and Research. In her new role, Gilmore will help the coalition expand its membership and standardize its insurance plans. "The lack of standardization adds cost without quality," said Gilmore. "Our goal is to have enough members so we can help influence the market." Nursing shortage strikes Oregon Hospitals have been the hardest hit, but long-term care also affected. The health care industry is struggling with a nationwide nursing shortage, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor predicted would strike shortly after the millennium. That dire 1992 forecast proved too optimistic. In Oregon, the dearth of nurses has already begun, reflecting a volatile combination of changes in technology, sociology, demographics and economics. The occupational landscape has shifted: alternative science-related careers have skyrocketed and nurses, disillusioned with managed care, are choosing to leave nursing. "When you add a nursing shortage on top of the high acuity and downsized work force created by managed care, you aggravate the situation," said Susan King, executive director of the Oregon Nurses Association. "Quality is compromised." Hospitals make inroads toward health authority Ed Patterson, lobbyist for the Oregon Assn. of Hospitals and Health Systems, wants health licensing council. Ed Patterson couldn't have been more evasive when Rep. Kitty Piercy (D-Eugene) asked whether he'd try to sneak a health licensing council into his infamous 49-page amended bill (HB 2465), which would regulate health licensing boards. "Autonomy and independence are not in my vocabulary when it comes to licensing boards," said Patterson. Despite opposition from virtually every mainstream group, OAHHS came away with a partial victory. If the legislation survives the Senate and escapes a governor's veto, nine licensing boards will be transferred from the Heath Division to an independent entity, which will collect fees, issue and revoke licenses, determine scope of practice limits and resolve disputes. Hospitals, physicians set financial targets Agreement's been reached on how much physicians and hospitals can expect to receive from the Oregon Heath Plan. In December, Gov. John Kitzhaber convened the major players to ward off a battle before the legislature, which could have led to sudden death for his health plan. "The governor was concerned about a provider war, said Dr. Charles Hofmann, who shared the news with physicians at the Oregon Medical Association's Sunriver Forum. If Gov. Kitzhaber's health plan remains intact, an overall target was agreed upon for physicians and hospitals based on the Medicare conversion factor of $39.60 per unit. Physicians could receive a 14% increase in their capitation rate, while hospitals could take a 12% reduction. Portland's mental health programs cry for help Portland's mental health delivery system is crumbling and could reach the crisis stage unless state officials intervene. On May 13, Unity laid off 17 staffers; seven other positions remain frozen and another 20 positions may be cut depending on labor negotiations. The issue is money. Unity faces a $700,000 deficit and its reserves are exhausted. "The current model isn't sustainable over the long haul," said Leslie Ford, CEO of Network Behavioral Healthcare and vice president of network development for The Concern. "Money is passing through more layers than before, with percentages peeling off. The number of clients has increased radically." Also in this issue...
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