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 May Oregon Health Forum teams up with OPB In early June, Oregon Health Forum and Oregon Public Broadcasting launch "Taking The Pulse," a 30-minute television program devoted to health policy and public health issues. "Our intent is to bring greater awareness of important health issues impacting all Oregonians," said Diane Lund-Muzikant, co-executive producer and editor of Oregon Health Forum who collaborated with Morgan Holm, news director at Oregon Public Broadcasting and co-executive director of the program. "Taking The Pulse" airs June 5 and 6 at 10 p.m. on Oregon Public Broadcasting television stations across the state. The three-part pilot series was made possible because of a generous $52,000 grant from the Northwest Health Foundation. Besides the television shows, Oregon Health Forum will man a Web site -- www.takingthepulse.org -- where viewers can gain insights and learn how to gain access to critical information. Oregon Health Forum and Oregon Public Broadcasting are hopeful of gaining additional funding to produce a weekly program hosted by Andrew Holtz, a former CNN correspondent with more than 20 years experience in health care reporting. Eventually, their goal is to produce a national television program on PBS devoted to health policy and public health issue. The three programs airing in June deal with the Oregon Health Plan, the private insurance market and teen suicide. Viewers will learn how well the Oregon Health Plan is doing and the challenges ahead at 10 p.m. on June 5. They'll hear from a panel that includes Mike Bonetto, senior policy advisor to Sen. Bev Clarno (R-Bend); John Golenski, president of the Health Priorities Group; Ruby Haughton representing CareOregon; Ellen Lowe, a health services commissioner; Dr. John Santa, administrator of the Office of the Oregon Health Plan Policy and Research and Chuck Sheketoff, who runs the Oregon Center for Public Policy. However, trial lawyers have their own spin. They contend insurers sat on their laurels, reaping profits, and should have increased premiums during the 1990s to keep up with inflationary growth. They also blame HMOs for inducing physicians to seek profits instead of good patient care by delaying necessary tests. Oregon is confident about federal waivers The word has come down from Washington DC. "They believe our concepts have credibility," said Mark Gibson, the governor's health policy advisor, who was recently in the nation's capitol talking about federal waivers to expand the Oregon Health to people earning below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. That translates to $35,000 a year for a family of four. Although 135,000 uninsured Oregonians fall into that category, officials believe only 50,000 people will seek health benefits when the program rolls out. Now the legislature just needs to pass the conceptual framework bill, known as HB 2519. Within the last few weeks, Gov. John Kitzhaber has moved up the timeline. Now he wants his expansion effort to get underway in October 2002 rather than waiting for the 2003 legislature to give its blessing and officially designate the new $30 million in federal matching funds to the Oregon Health Plan. Does that have anything to do with Kitzhaber's political plans? Assuming the expansion turns into a reality, and the governor decides to run against US Senator Gordon Smith, he'd have the perfect vehicle to launch his political platform -- an Oregon Health Plan that's reached the majority of the uninsured. And, the 2001 Republican-dominated legislature will have helped him achieve his goal. Could that have anything to do with the delay? Lincoln County hospitals score poorly Slightly more than 90 percent of people who sought medical care at two Lincoln County hospitals were never offered financial assistance to pay for their prescriptions, based on a survey among the uninsured conducted by the Oregon Health Action Campaign (OHAC). Even more striking, 80 percent of people needing help paying for their medical bills were never told about charity care at either hospital. All together, 305 people treated at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital and Pacific Communities Health District were surveyed last summer. Both are non-profit hospitals and provide charity care to low-income Oregonians. "The results are not what we would like them to be," admitted David Bigelow, CEO at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. His neighbor to the south, Pacific Communities, ranked even lower in most areas. Its administrator, Michael Fraser, echoed Bigelow's concern about patient access to information. Particularly after learning that 21 percent of those surveyed said their previous experience would deter them from seeking medical care at the Newport hospital, compared to a national average of 9 percent. The survey also found patients had to wait ten days, on average, before seeing a physician. However, Fraser believes the waiting time has been reduced after bringing six more primary care physicians on staff last year. Oncologists create foundation Northwest Cancer Specialists is creating a non-profit foundation to fuel operating costs for rehabilitation costs not covered by insurance companies, said Peter Bush, executive director. His 10 clinics, which have 29 oncologists, are beginning to provide services that have traditionally been the purview of hospitals such as physical therapy and lymphadema treatment. "A lot of qualified therapists who used to work for hospitals risk leaving the community because they cannot find work," Bush said. "The foundation will solicit contributions from patrons to fund the shortfall in running those services; our goal isn't to make money." Samaritan serious about Newport Affiliation talks between Pacific Communities Health District in Newport and Corvallis-based Samaritan Health Services have swung into high gear after signing a letter of intent. Negotiations should wrap up within six months. Earlier, the Newport hospital was unsuccessful in completing an agreement with Providence Health System after local citizens protested the intrusion of the Catholic Church. Samaritan's decision to enter into talks with Newport will not affect its commitment to North Lincoln Hospital, said Larry Mullins, president and CEO. Since that affiliation, the Lincoln City hospital's financial performance has improved dramatically. Meanwhile, Pacific Communities Health District may apply for a critical access designation. Recently North Lincoln received such status, which has increased its bottom line by $500,000 during its first year, said Michael Fraser, PCHD administrator. In other news, the Department of Health and Human Services has given a $194,000 grant to North Lincoln Health District to establish a clinic for low-income residents. Gordly applauds delay in name-reporting Community pressure apparently drove the Health Division to delay implementation of a name-reporting system that would have identified AIDS patients and created an uproar among activists. The controversial decision had been pushed forward by the previous administrator, Dr. Martin Wasserman, who was fired in February after squabbling with Bobby Mink, director of the Department of Human Services. Wasserman had insisted name reporting begin on July 1. Now it will be October, at the very earliest, before such a system is imposed. To quell the community's concern, Dr. Grant Higginson, acting administrator, has taken a much softer, less aggressive approach and hired a private consultant, Joan Brown-Kline, to facilitate discussions between the Health Division and HIV activists. Sen. Avel Gordly (D-Portland), who recommended Brown-Kline, couldn't be more pleased with Higginson's decision. Before Wasserman was abruptly fired, she had taken umbrage with some of his remarks, complaining to the governor about his inability to listen to advocates' concerns. Opponents line up The Douglas County AIDS Council believes anonymous screening is the only effective tool it has in reaching high-risk populations, including gay men and intravenous drug users. The group fears mandatory reporting will bring testing to a grinding halt. "If we can reach people just a little bit, this was worth it," said Rita Peterson, whose son died from AIDS in 1987. "You've got to keep plugging away. Prejudice has to die -- it needs to be killed." Hispanic treatment center to close At a time when tempers are heated following the death of Jose Mejia Poot, the Hispanic population has to contend with yet another problem. The closure of the state's only residential alcohol and drug treatment program for Hispanics. The 13 residential beds, which cost about $486,000 a year to maintain, will likely close July 1 because the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (OADAP) has decided to eliminate its funding. "The beds have always been full," said Jack Peterson, director of the Malheur County Alcohol Recovery Center in Ontario where the program is housed. "It seems obvious to me that they are targeting Hispanics for some reason. They should have an equal opportunity to be treated the same as the Anglo population." Rep. Thomas Butler (R-Ontario), accused OADAP Director Barbara Cimaglio of being anti-Hispanic and anti-eastern Oregon. "When she cuts these 13 beds, she spits in the face of the governor and of President Vicente Fox of Mexico saying, ÔWe don't want your kind.'" She isn't evaluating the program on its merits, which he said are substantial. "This program gets the water to the end of the road." Discrimination had absolutely nothing to do with her decision, responded Cimaglio. "This decision isn't about saying this program isn't good. Its success was no better or worse than our other programs." Also in this issue...
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