[Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service

Wed Mar 2 00:46:15 PST 2005

Barbara, Mark, and Community,

Barbara, you write,

“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!”

The University of Mississippi must have significantly lowered their prices 
since the 1980s because the current tuition and fees for a full time 
students (two semesters) at UI is $3,632 and UM (two Semesters) is $4110.  
Add in the required $1000 health insurance and it is less to go to UM Today!

http://www.olemiss.edu/cgi-bin/tuition/fall05/query.pl and 
http://www.students.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=44885

“As for Donovan's comments.  Gritman did not play a role in the University 
requiring health insurance for its students.”

This is flatly false. The Chairman of the Gritman Board of Directors was 
also a UI Administrator and was placed in charge of the development of the 
new Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in 2002 and is still today in 
charge of that program: http://www.health.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=56276

It is not that hard for anyone with the interest in the truth to verify who 
was Chairman of the Board of Directors at Gritman in 2002 and who was the VP 
of Student Affairs, in charge of the student health insurance, during 
2001-2002 when these changes took place. It is a matter of public record.

You also cannot deny that requiring students to have nine times as must 
accidental coverage then any other public college or university in the 
northwest is not financially benefiting Gritman more than anyone else who 
would have to pay any amount not covered by that student's insurance.

It is also follows logically that if students are paying nine times the 
amount of coverage as any other student in Idaho that their premiums are 
going to be higher and their coverage in other areas is going to be less.

It also logically follows that if you cut dental coverage on 5500 students 
some are going to have problems with their teeth and are not going to have 
the $1000s (like a route canal or filling) to pay for it. This is also more 
likely to occur than someone getting into an accident causing $500,000 in 
damage and them having to drop out of school. If you have $500,000 occur to 
you in one accident, you probably are going to drop out anyway.

The argument is not IF students should have medical coverage. Of course they 
should, every one should. The questions are, how much insurance coverage, 
and should we deny people a right to post secondary education when they 
cannot afford nine times as much health insurance as other students? Should 
we not want people that cannot afford health insurance a chance to get a job 
and health care, instead or using the indigent care fund forever?

Those 200 students that did not get into UI last year because of medical 
coverage that cannot be covered with loans or grants, took their $10,000 in 
student loans to another college. That is $2,000,000 not coming into the 
Moscow Community because of this plan. Not to mention the damage the plan is 
doing to the rest of the community when they do not get coverage for this 
they do need.

I think it is wonderful that so many people like Gritman Hospital. To is so 
nice that the members of the community that have access to it like it. Now, 
can we work on making sure EVERYONE has access to Gritman, and not just for 
catastrophic coverage?

It seems as though people only want coverage for themselves and not anyone 
else. What about the 5,000 people in the area that do not have coverage to 
Gritman unless they are in an accident? Does that not bother you? Is this 
the liberal or Christian thing to do?

“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.”

While I do not want to undermine this giving, I think it is important to 
point out that there is a significant difference between making charitable 
contributions and not being reimburse for services. Gritman did not 
intentionally give away all of this amount, they were required by law to do 
so in order to remain an institution that allows for profit doctor 
businesses inside the hospital.

If I come home from work and $1000 in furniture was stolen from my house, I 
do not say that I donated $1000 to the community. If the candy machine eats 
my dollar I did not make a $1 donation to a private company that helps cheer 
children. Gritman loses money for the same major reasons.

And I too want to thank the hard working people at Gritman. I hope some day 
more students can visit your hospital for reasons other than a catastrophic 
injury. Like maybe for prevention of an illness. But unfortunately your 
administration has taken action to minimize this possibility.

Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold

>From: Barbara Richardson Crouch <edc at moscow.com>
>To: <bjswan at moscow.com>, Shelly <CJs at Turbonet.com>, Vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service
>Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 19:46:09 GMT
>
>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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