[Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service

[Tom Hansen]

Impressive.  Very impressive.

Consider the alternative, Moscow without Gritman.  Scary, isn't it?

We shouldn't be thankful to Gritman, not criticizing them.

Over $11 million in non-reimbursed medal care?  WOW !

The city of Moscow . . . No . . . Latah County owes Gritman Medical Center
an immeasurable debt of gratitude.

Many of those at Gritman are volunteers whose names we will probably never
know.

Thank you, Gritman, for your selfless contributions to this beautiful
community.

Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are
dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all
exist very nicely in the same box. 

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Barbara Richardson Crouch
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 11:46 AM
To: bjswan at moscow.com; Shelly; Vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service

Mark and Community,

I have reviewed Gritman's Form 990 from the year 2003 (the latest 
available).  And I think it is important for the community to know the 
exact amount of Griitman's Community Contributions.  In 2003 Gritman 
provided $11,699,750.02 in direct patient care that was not reimbursed.  
Gritman absorbs these costs for the community.  In addition to this 
amount, Gritman provided another $1,223,791 to promote health care in the 
community by providing services such as Gritman Adult Day Health, CPR 
classes, smoking cessation clases, etc.

As a community board member, I have been very impressed with Gritman's 
concern for the cost of health care.  I know the baord does everything in 
their power to ensure that our community receives the best health care at 
the best price.  The costs associated with Health Care are a concern 
nationwide.  Moscow is no exception.  But because Gritman and its Board of 
Directors have been fiscally repsonsible and carry a fund balance, they 
are able to keep the increases to a minimum.  As a not-for-profit, it is 
imperative that reserves be maintained to ensure the long-term viability 
of the organization.

As for Donovan's comments.  Gritman did not play a role in the University 
requiring health insurance for its students.  We all know that one injury 
or illness can create thousands of dollars in medical bills.  If a student 
is not insured, they run the risk of ruining their credit for many years, 
plus the rest of the community pays for their health care.  I know that 
college is expensive, however, when I attended the University of 
Mississippi in the early 1980's I paid more per semester than resident 
students pay in fees today at the Univeristy of Idaho!   

Barbara

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