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<b>GOD, PLEASE MAKE THE VOICES STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!</b><br>
<br>
Holy mother of pearl! I feel like I've died and gone to Oliver Stone
conspiracy theory hell. Have some of you been raised under heavy power
transmission
lines or grew up on a diet of lead based paint chips. <br>
I take what I can stands and I can't stands it no more. <br>
<br>
A) Accrording to the online U of I Student Health Insurance Program
brochure, the Idaho State Board of Education requires proof of health
insurance for ALL publicly funded institutions of higher education in
the state. This is not solely a U of I policy.<br>
<br>
B) The insurance program is underwritten and administered by the Mega
Life and Health Insurance Company of America. Ergo, the University
makes not one damn dime form the insurance program.<br>
<br>
C) The cost of the insurance is about 25% less than the cost of
comparable individual policies purchased through any other competitive
program in the state. Pretty good deal ask ANY insurance agent.<br>
<br>
D) The $11 million charged off for indigent care cannot be written off
on their taxes. They don't pay income taxes for cripes sake. They're
a not-for-profit entity!!!!<br>
<br>
E) Who, exactly should pay for indigent care? What is happening right
now is that everyone else is paying for those who can't through $20
bandaids. In fact, the people who get screwed the most are those who
either have not the benefit of a collectively bargained health plan
(like SHIP) or a government program (like Medicaid and Medicare) but
I'll get to that in a moment. Write you strinkin' congressman!<br>
<br>
Now, as I say, I don't have a dog in this fight (although I was born
there and delivered by the legendary Dr. Wilson for all you townies who
may care.) The current health system in this country is a disaster,
but that's little fault of the hospitals. It's systemic. <br>
<br>
You want to get down on the heath care system, that's fair game. But I
see that some here have so little clue as to what in fact are the
pressures on hospitals that their arguments are vacuous hyperbole. <br>
<br>
About 80% of health care is used by 20% of the population. About 60%
in total dollars is used by the 13% receiving Medicare. Medicare
payments are highly regulated by the Heath Care Finance Authoritiy
(HCFA) and are paid under a system called Diagnostic Related Groups
(DRG's) the sets maximums for any payment that can be made for any
service. This system has put horrendous strains on the entire hospital
system nationally and I'm sure that Gritman is no exception. Hence,
pricing needed to make up the deficiency ($20 bandaids) is a defacto
subsidy by all other payers. Additionally, under the Community
Hopsital Charter Bill, no community hospital is able to turn anyone
away for care regardless of their ability to pay. This doesn't even
include the pricing pressure from Medicaid. (check out
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0601patuncon.htm">http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0601patuncon.htm</a> for
some backgound on insruace and HMO's - libertarian rant.) <br>
<br>
I assume, but I don't know for sure, that Gritman makes its annual
reports available, in one form or another, to anyone who asks for
it. The accounting used is called Fund Balance Accounting where there
is no equity per say as there is no ownership. Anyone with a bone to
pick with Gritman should get that statement before casting ad hominem
attacks based on groundless assumptions and vacuous logic. My guess
is, being familiar with such things, that Gritaman has a minimal "free
funds balance" and just about all resources are earmarked for specific
programs. If you're really so full of piss and vinegar on the issue
get involved, donate your time to the hospital, and study the
finacials, so no one has to subsidize you ignorance with spilled ink.<br>
<br>
Lastly, is it so wrong that anyone makes a profit on anything? How
ridiculously obtuse is this proposition? We live in a market economy
and, although it sometimes lacks in fairness, it seems the best current
model in the egalitarian distribution of goods and services. (hint to
Mr. Arnold - you've got a University in Moscow - how 'bout econ 101.)<br>
<br>
You know what? Keep up the pressure and good people like B.J. Swanson
will eventually tell you to go piss off, sell Gritman to Health
Corporation of America and shut down all indigent services. Then
pathetic whiners that think everything in the country relative to
commerce is out to get them will have the opportunity to take their
pathetic paranoia and pound sand. You should be thanking him for doing
otherwise thankless work. <br>
<br>
You may have an argument for socialized medicine (regardless of how
wrong heades it may be) but you're making assumptions here that are
based on, from what I can tell ...nothing.<br>
<br>
I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Swanson and the entire
Board of Directors. I've been in similar postions and I know the
sacrifice to one's familyies and personal life it takes. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Dave (Mr. Screed) Budge <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Donovan Arnold wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="midBAY101-F1232416898334F2FA6640FA6650@phx.gbl">B.J. Swanson and
visioneers, <br>
<br>
You write well. However, I don't think you are being honest with the
community. Let us shine some light on your points. <br>
<br>
"The Board of Directors are all volunteers from the community and
receive no pay."--BJ S. <br>
<br>
That is because they make their money off making decisions that result
in lining their own pockets. Let us take the case of a previous Board
of Directors Chair. He used his position at UI to require all UI
students purchase health insurance. This saved Gritman millions of
dollars in having to pay the indigent fund. After leaving as Chair of
Board of Directors he now works one day a week as the Director of
Student Health, Benefits, and Welfare at UI for $90,000 a year and he
only works ONE day a week, Wednesday, and I don't think he even shows
up until after 9 AM. That is a cushy job. That is why he doesn't need
the token pay of the position. He made millions for UI and saved
millions for Gritman, at the expense of UI Students, many of which
cannot afford the crappy insurance, that costs more and cut out vision
and dental. <br>
<br>
"Gritman is non-profit"-BJS <br>
<br>
Maybe not for the hospital and community but it sure is for some of the
board of directors and some others that work there. At $20 for a
band-aid, money has got to going some where because is not going to the
nurses or the janitors. <br>
<br>
<br>
"Gritman is not a tax supported hospital." BJS <br>
<br>
If you believe that I got a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell
you. Humm, as I seem to recall, the taxpayers donated an entire street
to Gritman and paid money to build on an entirely new wing to the
hospital for private doctors to make private profits. Not to mention
providing all those utilities. Now just because it doesn't show as a
LINE ITEM on a bill doesn't mean we are not paying for it. I think to
suggest that the taxpayers are not spending millions of their hard
earned dollars on Gritman really is dishonest and akin of the type of
behavior and attitude that has been coming out of the Board of
Directors for the last few years. Taxpayers do support Gritman and you
should thank them for it rather than telling them they don't and
insulting them. Its operations are also supported by taxpayers because
the hospital is tax exempt and taxpayers have to pay higher property
taxes as a result. <br>
<br>
" Last year, Gritman expensed over $11 million in charity care in this
community."--BJS <br>
<br>
Correction, Gritman wrote-off on their taxes $11 million in charity
care to the community. Let us not get carried away. And at $20 for a
band aid, how much care was that? How much did Gritman collect and save
from not having to pay for indigent care by forcing UI students to have
expensive health insurance? How much has Gritman made from other tax
supported entities? How much of that charity was paid as a mandate by
local, state, and federal law? And where was most of the money
directed? The answers to those question began to paint a much different
picture. <br>
<br>
"Gritman will pay it's fair share of a BID assessment if it is
approved."BJS <br>
<br>
You mean Gritman won't break the law? Thanks for that agreement. <br>
<br>
<br>
"I challenge you to think of Moscow without Gritman and tell me if you
would be better off." BJS <br>
<br>
Oh please! Are you suggesting that Moscow Residents are to ignorant to
figure out how to staff a hospital if it were not for BJ Swanson and
the Board of Directors? That really is disturbing and insulting you
people think that about yourselves. If Gritman was not there, we would
have a better hospital like we did before it was taken over by a tax
dodging and profiteering form of management. We would not have people
lining up to be on the board of directors to make money off the
position if it were not for Gritman. We would not have as high of
property taxes because the private doctors making private profits would
be paying taxing rather than being supported by them if it were not for
Gritman. And lastly, I would not be forced to buy inadequate health
insurance from UI at outrageous prices. The Board of Directors cost me
an extra $500 a year and my former quality health insurance I had
before. I think people in Moscow would have to filled with a great
deal of incompetence not to be better off with a different hospital. <br>
<br>
Finally, it ought to tell people in Moscow something when a former
members of the Board of Directors at Gritman would rather be
helicoptered to Lewiston for treatment rather than be treated at
Gritman. Maybe they know something. <br>
<br>
I know that Gritman has good workers and bad workers, just like every
place else. However, I think it gets worse when you have greedy profit
driven management. Greed should never be allowed to rear its ugly head
in a place that is suppose to provide critical quality care. The
Gritman Board of Directors, over the last several years, has placed the
welfare of the community second to huge profits. <br>
<br>
Good Day, <br>
<br>
Donovan J Arnold <br>
Victim of Gritman <br>
<br>
"How do you tell when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving" <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">From: "B. J. Swanson"
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:bjswan@moscow.com"><bjswan@moscow.com></a>
<br>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><vision2020@moscow.com></a> <br>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service <br>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 20:12:29 -0800 <br>
<br>
<br>
Donovan & Visionaries, <br>
<br>
The cost of healthcare is certainly a concern for everyone. Instead of
a <br>
Social Security crisis, the nation probably has a worse healthcare
crisis. <br>
It's not just Moscow. <br>
<br>
You may think Gritman is a huge for-profit, corporate hospital, but it
is <br>
not. Gritman is non-profit. It is owned by the community. The Board
of <br>
Directors are all volunteers from the community and receive no pay. We
do <br>
contract with Quorum Health Resources for management of Gritman. Jeff <br>
Martin is the only Quorum employee at Gritman. If you have ever looked
at a <br>
Medicare Cost Report or one of the 300+ contracts Gritman maintains,
you <br>
would clearly see that to stay in business and provide healthcare that
the <br>
community expects, we contract with a company that specializes in
hospital <br>
management. It's an extremely complicated and costly industry, but it
also <br>
saves lives. <br>
<br>
Gritman does way more than provide hot chocolate, coffee, etc. to the <br>
community. Last year, Gritman expensed over $11 million in charity
care in <br>
this community. We care for everyone regardless of their ability to
pay. <br>
<br>
Gritman is also the largest private employer with nearly 400 employees.
<br>
<br>
The direct healthcare areas of Gritman are tax exempt. Properties that
are <br>
leased or not directly related to healthcare are taxed. Gritman will
pay <br>
it's fair share of a BID assessment if it is approved. <br>
<br>
You will find that many hospitals in Idaho started out like Gritman;
owned <br>
and supported by the community. Most have gotten into trouble, sold <br>
themselves to for-profit companies or gave themselves to the Counties
and <br>
became taxing districts. Pullman Regional Hospital is funded by a
taxing <br>
district. The residents of Pullman are taxed to support their
hospital. <br>
Gritman is not a tax supported hospital. You will find no line item on
your <br>
tax bill to support Gritman. It is tax exempt, but you do not pay
taxes to <br>
keep it running either. Most communities that now have tax supported <br>
hospitals would much prefer an arrangement like Gritman. <br>
<br>
I challenge you to think of Moscow without Gritman and tell me if you
would <br>
be better off. <br>
<br>
B. J. Swanson <br>
Chairman of the Board <br>
Gritman Medical Center <br>
<br>
---------------------------------- <br>
<br>
<br>
------ Forwarded Message <br>
From: "Donovan Arnold" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:donovanarnold@hotmail.com"><donovanarnold@hotmail.com></a>
<br>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 18:46:57 -0800 <br>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:edc@moscow.com">edc@moscow.com</a>,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:CJs@Turbonet.com">CJs@Turbonet.com</a>,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:editor@lataheagle.com">editor@lataheagle.com</a>, <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a> <br>
Subject: [Vision2020] Gritman's Community Service <br>
<br>
<br>
"Gritman provided hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies for participants
of <br>
the <br>
Holiday Parade. Gritman also provides hot dogs and drinks for the <br>
Homecoming Parade." <br>
<br>
Don't forget the lolly pop and a free sticker if you don't cry during a
<br>
hysterectomy. <br>
<br>
Really though, it is so nice for UI students to pay an extra $500 a
semester <br>
in addition to other fees so they can get free coffee and cookies at <br>
downtown events. What a deal! And we wonder why students are leaving UI
by <br>
the hundreds. The logic just doesn't follow :P <br>
<br>
Donovan J Arnold <br>
<br>
<br>
--------------------------------- <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
>From: Barbara Richardson Crouch <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:edc@moscow.com"><edc@moscow.com></a> <br>
>To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:CJs@Turbonet.com"><CJs@Turbonet.com></a>,
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:editor@lataheagle.com"><editor@lataheagle.com></a>,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a> <br>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] NSA <br>
>Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 18:55:11 GMT <br>
> <br>
>Phil, <br>
> <br>
>Gritman is a not-for-profit corporation. The hospital is
controlled and <br>
>operated by a board of directors comprised of community members.
Gritman <br>
>provides millions of dollars per year in unreimbursed care to our
local <br>
>residents. <br>
> <br>
>Gritman provides various services and supports downtown events.
Gritman <br>
>provided hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies for participants of the
<br>
>Holiday Parade. Gritman also provides hot dogs and drinks for the <br>
>Homecoming Parade. Plus Gritman supports finacially many, many
events <br>
>throughout the community. <br>
> <br>
>Barbara Crouch <br>
> <br>
>--------------------------------- <br>
> <br>
> > Kai - If NSA and Grittman (since Grittman is FOR PROFIT)
were paying <br>
> > property taxes there would not need to be a BID. <br>
> > <br>
> > Phil <br>
> > <br>
> > -------Original Message------- <br>
> > <br>
> > From: Kai Eiselein <br>
> > Date: 02/24/05 09:06:41 <br>
> > To: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a> <br>
> > Subject: [Vision2020] NSA <br>
> > <br>
> > Rose, you may want to take a closer look at the BID. I am
rather <br>
>ambivile> nt <br>
> > about it, but I did write an article in the December 9 issue
of the <br>
>Latah> <br>
> > Eagle about the process. <br>
> > According to the documents I have, a tax exempt entity is not
exempt <br>
>from> <br>
> > the a BID levy. That would include New St. Andrews College
and Gritman <br>
>to> <br>
> > name a couple. The BID in Twin Falls includes the
administrative office <br>
>o> f <br>
> > the school district, as I recall, and they are subject to the
BID levy <br>
>as> <br>
> > well. <br>
> > <br>
> > <br>
> > Kai T. Eiselein <br>
> > Editor <br>
> > Latah Eagle <br>
> > 521 S. Jackson St. <br>
> > Moscow, ID 83843 <br>
> > (208) 882-0666 Fax (208) 882-0130 <br>
> > <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:editor@lataheagle.com">editor@lataheagle.com</a> <br>
> > <br>
<br>
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