[Vision2020] Gritman Clarification

[B. J. Swanson]

Donovan & Visionaries,

Your allegation is totally false that "the Chairman of the Gritman Board of
Directors was also a UI Administrator in charge of the new Student Health
Insurance Program in 2002."  I have been Chair since October 2001.  I am not
associated with the University of Idaho.  I have signed no "sweet deals"
with the U-I. Hal Godwin has held no position at Gritman since 2001.

Donovan, please stop blaming Gritman for a health care crisis that affects
millions in this country.  Our health care system is a much bigger crisis
than Social Security.  You are not alone.  Just please don't continue
blaming the wrong people.

Gritman is preparing a report on our charity/indigent/unreimbursed care for
2004.  I will be glad to share those numbers on Vision 2020 when the report
is complete.  

B. J. Swanson
Chairman of the Board
Gritman Medical Center

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> 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...........