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 August Employer coalition unveils Patient Choice The launch pad is ready. Employers, insurance agents and brokers will get a sneak preview of Patient Choice on Sept. 6. A health plan with an accountability focus, the promoters of Patient Choice have contracts with the major physician groups and hospitals in the Portland, Salem and Eugene communities. Swords drawn over Henery report Hospitals and doctors are at each others throats over money. In a report commissioned by the Oregon Medical Association, the consulting group, Henery & Associates, claims that hospitals have made enormous profits from the Oregon Health Plan since its inception in 1993. Oregon confronts national nursing crisis A black man in an industry dominated by white women, Roland Jemerson defies the Florence Nightingale image, but the 52-year-old VA Medical Center nurse embodies the crisis facing Oregon and the nation. Like nearly 70 percent of nurses in the state, he's a baby boomer quickly approaching retirement as the heath care needs of his mammoth generation are set to push demand through the roof. Tax credit flounders Everything looked good for a tax credit for family care workers until a gut-and-stuff overhaul left the bill stripped of its original intent and its supporters frustrated. House Bill 2332 passed the House Revenue Committee with strong bipartisan support. "The bill was sponsored by Rep. Bill Witt and carried to the floor by Rep. Mark Hass, and you can't get a bigger spread than that," said Andi Miller, public affairs director of the Alzheimer's Association. Public health deteriorates In the wake of Gov. Kitzhaber's last minute decision to deny $9.2 million to public health departments to combat communicable diseases, at least two counties have been forced to trim their staff and services as their already weakened infrastructure continues deteriorating. County health officials now have their sights set on an Legislative Emergency Board meeting in January where they'll likely request the $9.2 million. Legacy may drop Project Network Legacy Health System is engaged in a due diligence process with Volunteers of America to take over its residential substance abuse program known as Project Network. "Basically we're assessing the program and ultimately will make a business decision, but I can't give you a time line," said Kay Toran, VOA's executive director. Currently, the VOA operates two residential programs for men and women referred from the judicial system. Hospitals fight rule In a nod to the hospitals, Governor Kitzhaber is convening a work group to review an administrative rule fostered by Oregon Health Plan contractors. Currently, if a hospital refuses to sign or isn't offered a managed care contract, their reimbursement rates could be much lower. "What we have long believed is that this is a market place issue," said Kevin Earls, vice president of finance and health policy for the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, which attempted to detonate the rule during the last legislative session. Fluoridation battle heats up While anti-fluoridation forces celebrate the demise of Senate Bill 99, which would have put what they consider "poison" into the drinking water stream, the victory party may be short lived. The opposition camp didn't realize Governor Kitzhaber had set aside $500,000 to bring the chemical closer to their homes. This money will help communities purchase equipment, renovate pipes and inform people about the benefits of fluoridation. Letter to the editor To the Editor, I read with interest the article in your July 2001 issue on Legacy Health System's plan to expand to Clark County. While the article covered the story very well, there are some fundamental questions that should also be raised. First and foremost, it is important to note that Legacy plans to spend $162 million that they have made serving patients in Portland. Because of the competitive certificate of need process in place in Washington, there has been a very public discussion as to whether or not Legacy's proposal would best benefit the community. Certainly Southwest Washington Medical Center, which is proposing an alternative to the Legacy plan, believes the hospital is not necessary there. However, there has yet to be a discussion here in Portland on whether or not Legacy's proposal is best for Portlanders. Clearly Legacy is claiming that they've looked at long term planning for Clark County area, but have they done the same for the Portland area? Has anyone asked the question whether or not the funds should have been applied to needed improvements in Portland first? A hospital is an important member of the community, and as such, needs to take into consideration the needs of all of the communities it serves. If this money is best spent in Clark County, so be it. However, Portlanders should be asking Legacy whether the money would be better spent on lowering the cost of service, expanding services to those in need; improving the emergency room divert standards; or investing in additional health care facilities and staff here in the Portland area. I hope they begin to do so. Dr. Donald Cleland Also in this issue...
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