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 January MRI proliferation: too much of a good thing? Magnetic resonance imaging technology was once the domain of hospitals, but now such devices are spreading like wildfires across the state. Not only have MRI centers opened in shopping malls — adjacent to ice cream parlors — now physicians are starting to see the light and jumping on the bandwagon. They claim they’re trying to meet their patients’ needs. But here’s the question no one seems willing to answer — how many MRIs do we actually need in metropolitan areas such as Portland? How do we know when enough is enough? And do physicians who invest in the technology have the best interests of their patients at heart — or are they more concerned with the almighty dollar? Medicare giveth and Medicare taketh away It’s easy not to like the Medicare reform legislation signed into law by President Bush. It pours money into the pockets of private industry, insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other deep-pocketed contributors to political campaigns. It also saddles pharmacists with the burden of paying for part of the drug benefit. “It’s a boondoggle, particularly for the pharmaceutical and insurance industry,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of the advocacy organization Families USA in a Dallas Morning News article. A quality guy: talking with David Lansky David Lansky began taking a hard look at the quality of health care two decades ago — long before it was fashionable. Armed with the belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant, he has argued that a transparent health care system would also be a safer and more accountable one. He became president of the national organization, The Foundation for Accountability, when it was formed in 1995, a position he still holds. He told Oregon Health Forum Associate Editor Rory Carroll that while people are beginning to expect better quality of care, they still aren’t getting it. OHF: Have you actually seen a change in quality since you began your work? DL: There has been a tremendous change in attitude and expectation about quality, but I don’t think there has been a significant change in performance. A lot of these issues were brand new in 1989 and now everyone talks about them and has programs to address them. That’s a huge change. Respiratory therapy program revived A partnership between the Oregon Institute of Technology and Rogue Community College will preserve a respiratory therapy training program that had been a victim of budget cuts. For years, Rogue Community College’s respiratory therapy program turned out graduates who found well paying jobs in the area, but it ended last year when the legislature slashed funding for higher education. LUBA throws wrench in PeaceHealth’s plans Not so fast. That’s what the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) said about PeaceHealth's plans to relocate its Eugene hospital and open a new 160 acre, $350 million hospital and medical center in Springfield. The project looked all but certain after the Springfield City Council gave PeaceHealth the green light last April. But its decision was appealed to LUBA by a group of petitioners who felt PeaceHealth shouldn’t be allowed to build on land that was originally set aside for residential use. They also felt the development could overwhelm the area's shoestring transportation system. Petitioners included Robin and John Jaqua, Lane County, 1,000 Friends of Oregon, the Coalition for Health Options in Central Eugene-Springfield, Anne Heinsoo, Linda Cheney and Fred Felter. Bariatric surgery surge Morbidly obese Rogue Valley residents no longer have to travel to Klamath Falls or Eugene for bariatric surgery. Oregon Surgical Specialists will offer the procedure in partnership with Rogue Valley Medical Center. RVMC will charge about $30,000, including pre-surgical screening, psychological evaluation, hospitalization, surgery and post-operative support, said Andrea Jablonski, marketing director America’s expanding waistlines provide a growing market for bariatric surgery. National data suggests 64.5 percent of adults over age 20 (127 million people) are overweight; of those, nine million (4.7 percent) are “morbidly obese” — at least 100 pounds over their ideal weight. Vaginal births in decline Rogue Valley women who have had a previous Cesarean birth will find little support from local hospitals if they want to attempt vaginal birth in a subsequent pregnancy. Three of the region’s four hospitals have stopped offering the option of “vaginal birth after Cesarean” or VBAC — Providence Medford Medical Center, Rogue Valley Medical Center and Three Rivers Community Hospital. Ashland Community Hospital may follow their lead. Ballot title blues All eyes will be on the Oregon Supreme Court as would-be ballot initiatives wait for the court to christen them. HealthOregon, which proposes a model for universal health insurance by curbing runaway medical inflation costs, is the latest measure to get in line. It follows in the footsteps of the Oregon Medical Association, which has a handful of ballot titles being reviewed by the Supreme Court. HealthOregon’s proponents can do little but wait for the court’s decision because there’s no time line for the ruling. Mercer gets the nod Despite the uncertain future of the Oregon Health Plan, the state has signed a contract with Mercer Human Resource Consulting to examine the potential cost savings associated with managed care compared to fee-for-service. Mercer will be reimbursed on an hourly basis, but cannot be paid more than $400,000. Its report must be presented to Senate President Peter Courtney and Speaker of the House Karen Minnis by Aug. 1. Last session, legislators were openly frustrated over the lack of hard data comparing the cost effectiveness of managed care and fee-for-service. To resolve the issue, it set aside funding for an actuarial firm. Also in this issue...
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