============================================================ Health Options Digest January 21-27, 2002 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield ============================================================ In this issue... * UPCOMING EVENTS - Mon 1/28, 5:30 pm - Springfield City Council - Mon 1/28, 7:00 pm - Phil Barnhart & Bill Morrisette (Eugene) - Wed 1/30, 7:00 pm - Phil Barnhart & Bill Morrisette (Creswell) - Thu 1/31, 2:30 pm - Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce - Thu 1/31, 7:00 pm - Phil Barnhart & Bill Morrisette (Brownsville) - Mon 2/ 4, 4:00 pm - CHOICES Steering Committee - Mon 2/ 4, 7:00 pm - Phil Barnhart & Bill Morrisette (Coburg) - Wed 2/ 6, 7:00 pm - Phil Barnhart & Bill Morrisette (Springfield) * HEALTH OPTIONS NEWS - Catholic hospitals urged to lift religious restraints - Sports site plans heat up hearing - Soccer fields and sports center top city agenda Monday - City puts a hold on selling land to Arlie; public hearing set for Tuesday - Oakridge loses medical clinic * COMMENTARY - PeaceHealth: Committed to community - PeaceHealth needs land - Getting sick - Hospital choices are disappearing / Hardball at PeaceHealth - Prime real estate - Unbelievable plot - Time for house-cleaning - Commentary: Value of Roe vs. Wade is timeless - Murder is still murder - Plan covers everything - Springfield 2001: Six secrets of our success - Wrong site for antenna - Deep Dish with Dinah: Taking the fifth... dimension (#373) * OTHER NEWS - Business Beat: People - Insurance / Eileen Alt Powell: Unemployed workers depend on cobra * KEY * USEFUL LINKS * CREDITS ============================================================ UPCOMING EVENTS ============================================================ MON 1/28, 5:30 PM - SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL * Where: Council Meeting Room, 225 Fifth St., Springfield * Contact: Kim Krebs, 726-3700 * Agenda: http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/2002Council/012802agenda.pdf * Items of possible interest: Work Session at 5:30 pm: 3. I-5 Beltline Interchange Update. [Nick Arnis] (6-6:30 pm?) Executive Session at 6:30 pm: 2. Contract Negotiations. [John Tamulonis] (6:45-7:15 pm?) 3. Property Negotiations. [John Tamulonis] (7:15-7:45 pm?) Regular Meeting at 7:45 pm (?) 1. Contract Negotiations - Motion or further direction to staff. [John Tamulonis] (5 Minutes) 2. Property Negotiations - Motion or further direction to staff. [John Tamulonis) (5 Minutes) [Ed. Note: It is difficult to learn from Springfield City Hall what will actually be happening at this meeting. A good guess is that the contract and property negotiations items related to selling the planned Gateway sports site to Arlie and developing a sports site at 32nd and Main.] ------------------------------------------------------------ MON 1/18, WED 1/3, THU 1/31, MON 2/4, WED 2/6 - REP. PHIL BARNHART & SEN. BILL MORRISETTE "The Phil and Bill Hour" Please join us for a show near you. Let's talk about the State's budget shortfall and your concerns. * Mon 1/28, 7:00 pm, South Eugene High School, Room 7, 400 E. 19th St., Eugene * Wed 1/30, 7:00 pm, Cresswell Community Center, 99 S. First, Creswell * Thu 1/31, 7:00 pm, Brownsville Library, Kirk Room, 146 Spaulding Ave., Brownsville * Mon 2/ 4, 7:00 pm, Coburg Council Chmabers, 91069 N. Willamette St., Coburg * Wed 2/ 6, 7:00 pm, Springfield School District Board Room, 525 Mill St., Springfield * Contact: staff@philbarnhart.com, 484-5119; dbishoff@attbi.com, 343-0892 [RG advertisement, 1/25/02, page 3C] (State Senate District 6 includes large parts of East and South Eugene, generally east of Agate Street near the university, then spreading westward and southward to take in most of south Eugene, including Edgewood and environs, all the way round to Willamette Street, all of Springfield, and a big chunk of rural eastern Lane and Linn counties, from Creswell on the south to almost Albany on the north.) ------------------------------------------------------------ THU 1/31, 2:30 PM - EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE "Economic forecasts for 2002 to be discussed at meeting Jan. 31" Industry experts and Oregon economists will discuss current trends and make their projections for 2002 at "Economic Forecast 2002: Thriving and Surviving in Economic Cycles" from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the Hilton Eugene Conference Center. Speakers include John Brown of Duncan & Brown Real Estate Analysts Inc.; Bill Klein of Dean Runyan & Associates; Tim Wigley of the Oregon Forest Industries Council; Lee Beyer, a commissioner on the Oregon Public Utilities Commission; and John O'Connell of the U.S. Export Assistance Center. Economists include state economist Tom Potiowsky, Oregon Employment Department regional economist Brian Rooney, US Bank's John Mitchell and ECONorthwest founder and University of Oregon economics professor Ed Whitelaw. Admission is $25 in advance for pre-registered Eugene Chamber of Commerce members and $30 at the door. Cost is $35 for non-members. To register, go to the chamber Web site at www.eugenechamber.com. (end) [Tim Shinabarger, SN business story, 1/23/02] http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/business/business-01.html#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0123/business/business-01.html#TopOfPage * Where: Eugene Hilton, 99 West 10th Ave., Eugene * Contact: 484-1314 ------------------------------------------------------------ MON 2/4, 4:00 PM - CHOICES STEERING COMMITTEE For more information about CHOICES and the next steering committee meeting, pleae contact Jan Wilson, 341-1380, jswilson@efn.org. ============================================================ HEALTH OPTIONS NEWS ============================================================ CATHOLIC HOSPITALS URGED TO LIFT RELIGIOUS RESTRAINTS On the 29th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, advocacy groups called for Roman Catholic hospitals to ease restrictions on emergency abortions and contraceptive procedures -- and urged politicians to threaten the facilities with funding cutoffs. In reports released today, the American Civil Liberties Union and MergerWatch said certain policies at the hospitals infringe on employees and patients with different religious beliefs. The reports note that America's 618 Catholic hospitals -- with 16 percent of community hospital beds -- serve people of all faiths, including many patients whose bills are paid by Medicaid and Medicare... The Eugene-Springfield region's largest hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center, is sponsored by the Catholic church and does not provide elective abortions or emergency contraceptives except for rape victims, hospital spokesman Brian Terrett said. (more...) [The Associated Press, RG national story, 1/22/02, page 3A] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020122/3a.localizecatholicabort.0122.html ------------------------------------------------------------ SPORTS SITE PLANS HEAT UP HEARING Springfield -- City Council members heard hearty support and harsh criticism Tuesday night on whether the city should support building a sports center in midtown and rezone the center's former site in the Gateway area for business development. The public hearing involved proposals to: * Relocate the planned 160,000-square-foot sports center from northwest Springfield to 32nd and Main streets. * Rezone the 22-acre Gateway site on Sports Way, at Interstate 5 and International Way, to allow construction of offices or a business park. * Sell the Gateway parcel to developer Arlie & Co. for $5.35 million cash, subject to the zoning change. Appraisers put the value of the parcel at $5.1 million to $5.77 million. (more...) [Matt Cooper, RG city & region story, 1/23/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020123/1d.cr.sportscenter.0123.html ------------------------------------------------------------ SOCCER FIELDS AND SPORTS CENTER TOP CITY AGENDA MONDAY After taking no action at its Tuesday meeting, the Springfield City Council will discuss on Monday whether to sell 22 acres of Gateway-area land to Arlie & Co. Also on the agenda is whether to move soccer fields and a proposed indoor sports center from Gateway to land Arlie owns at 32nd and Main Street. Eugene land company Arlie & Co. offered in December to buy the sports property at the north end of Sports Way for $5.35 million. The offer is contingent on the city promising to rezone the property to campus-industrial zoning. After a long public hearing and a 90-minute executive (closed to the public) session Tuesday, councilors tabled until Monday decisions whether to accept the purchase offer and whether to relocate the sports facilities. (more...) [Tim Shinabarger, SN front page story, 1/26/02] http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/frontpage/sn_frontpage-01.htm#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0126/frontpage/sn_frontpage-01.htm#TopOfPage ------------------------------------------------------------ CITY PUTS A HOLD ON SELLING LAND TO ARLIE; PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR TUESDAY City councilors took no action Tuesday on whether to sell Arlie & Co. a two-acre parcel next to the 160 acres Arlie sold to PeaceHealth on Dec. 31. Arlie proposed on Nov. 26 to buy the city property east of Game Farm Road for $55,000. It's the parcel between the road and the Springfield Utility Board substation. The City Council discussed the offer at its Dec. 5 meeting and scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday on the matter. Larry Reed, Arlie & Co. development director, was the only person to testify. Reed told the council his company had agreed with PeaceHealth to buy the property from the city and donate it to PeaceHealth. It provides tax advantages to Arlie & Co. to do it this way, he said. The Council will decide Feb. 4 whether to sell the property. (more...) [Tim Shinabarger, SN community story, 1/26/02] http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/community/sn_community-03.htm#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0126/community/sn_community-03.htm#TopOfPage ------------------------------------------------------------ OAKRIDGE LOSES MEDICAL CLINIC Oakridge -- It may not rank up there on the turmoil scale with the relocation of PeaceHealth operations from Eugene to Springfield, but closing the Oakridge Medical Clinic will create a noticeable void in this small eastern Lane County community. Springfield-based McKenzie-Willamette Hospital has kept the clinic on Highway 58 functioning years after abandoning the rest of its community satellite clinics. But earlier this month, the hospital informed its Oakridge area patients that Feb. 15 will be the last day they can seek medical attention there. (more...) [Randi Bjornstad, RG city & region story, 1/27/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020127/1c.cr.clinicclosure.0127.html ============================================================ COMMENTARY ============================================================ PEACEHEALTH: COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY At PeaceHealth, our goal is simple: To collaborate with the community to make this a healthier place to live. What PeaceHealth brings to that collaboration is not only medical excellence but a deep commitment to healing and compassionate care. Among PeaceHealth's contributions last year: * More than $3 million worth of hospital care for those unable to pay. * $80,000 in financial support of year-round, school-based health care for students in Eugene, Springfield and Cottage Grove. * Treatment of more than 95,000 patients in our Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinic. * Care for 275 pregnant women, regardless of their ability to pay, at our Prenatal Clinic. * Distribution of 684 reduced-cost bike helmets and proper fitting of children's car seats for more than 75 families. * 943 open-heart operations. * First aid for the Butte-to-Butte, Eugene Celebration, Fiesta Latina, track meets and other events. * Nearly $42,000 worth of free medications to White Bird and Volunteers in Medicine clinics. * $135,000 to United Way of Lane County, matching $234,000 from employees. * 197 supportive harp-and-voice vigils for dying patients in their homes and in the hospital. Last year the dollar value of PeaceHealth's community benefits topped $29 million. To learn more about PeaceHealth's fiscal year 2001, visit www.peacehealth.org/willamette or call 686-6868 to request a copy of PeaceHealth's Community Report. (end) [PeaceHealth, RG advertisement, 1/22/02, page 10A] ------------------------------------------------------------ PEACEHEALTH NEEDS LAND I for one am glad that PeaceHealth has finalized the purchase of land for its medical campus of the future. Now it can get back to what it does best: taking care of people. Although acquiring land for growth is an inevitable task for any hospital facing rapidly increasing demand for its services, it's a time-consuming and resource-draining process. Staff whose primary job it is to make sure that doctors and nurses have the tools they need to care for people have been spending an inordinate amount of time in recent years trying to cobble together a parcel of land big enough for a new hospital. One of the advantages of having a major league, regional medical center here is that we also get major league doctors and services. This all requires good management, commitment and vision. We have this at Sacred Heart and PeaceHealth. Let's move on and be thankful that PeaceHealth now has the space it needs to grow and to continue to serve our community and our region through the 21st century. (end) [Tracy Ellis, Pleasant Hill, RG letter to editor, 1/24/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020124/ed.letters.0124.html ------------------------------------------------------------ GETTING SICK It seems almost every time I pick up The Register-Guard and see a PeaceHealth ad I get a little sick. Not only do I see thousands of dollars going to ads rather than to patient care and better staffing of nurses, I see a cynical attempt to convince the public that it cares about the community. I'm sure the nuns who started Sacred Heart Hospital (now PeaceHealth) really cared for their patients. Patient health and welfare were their primary concerns. But along the way something happened. It seems as the hospital grew, officers and boards became more interested in the bottom line and local politics than in patient care. The hospital's "culture" changed. I put non-profit organizations into three categories. There are non-profits that start essentially as businesses, using their tax status and fund-raising ability for their officers' enrichment. Then there are those that forget their mission as a result of growth or other factors. And finally there are non-profits where officers and the board get up every day and think, "How can we better fulfill our mission?" I wish that PeaceHealth were the kind of hospital that would seriously attend to this question. (end) [Ron Norberg, Eugene, EW letter to editor, 1/24/02] http://www.eugeneweekly.com/views.html#letters http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/01_24_02/views.html#letters ------------------------------------------------------------ HOSPITAL CHOICES ARE DISAPPEARING / HARDBALL AT PEACEHEALTH A year ago, Rosboro's employees lost the ability to go to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. How did this happen? The Regence Group acquired Blue Cross/Blue Shield and formed an alliance with PeaceHealth. Now our employees are not able to use the hospital they've used most of their lives, and over 70 percent of them live in the Springfield area. When we found out, we protested to Blue Cross. They told us PeaceHealth would raise its prices if it had to share our business with McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. PeaceHealth needs to rethink this way of doing business. They will always be the biggest hospital, so do they really need to do things like this to ensure they're the biggest? Years ago, there were a lot of different hospitals in Lane County: three in Eugene/Springfield, one in Cottage Grove, another in Florence. Now there are just two: PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? (end) [Wes Anderson, Human Resources Director, Rosboro Lumber Co., Springfield] [SN letter to editor, 1/26/02] http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/opinion/sn_opinion-02.html#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0126/opinion/sn_opinion-02.html#TopOfPage [RG letter to editor, 1/27/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020127/ed.letters.0127.html ------------------------------------------------------------ PRIME REAL ESTATE I would like to respond to the emphasis in recent Register-Guard articles on the price that PeaceHealth paid for the 160 acres in the Gateway area. As much as people do not like to use the word "business" in the context of health care, the two disciplines are intimately linked. To be as successful as PeaceHealth is in providing a full range of comprehensive care, as well as providing millions of dollars in care to low-income people that is uncompensated, good business acumen is essential. Sure, $34 million is a lot of money, and 160 acres is a lot of land. It's prime real estate in a part of the community that is growing. RiverBend property will be worth far more in 10 years than PeaceHealth paid for it today. It's a good decision for the long-term security of our health care system in the region. (end) [John Harrison, Eugene, RG letter to editor, 1/26/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020126/ed.lettersmain.0126.html ------------------------------------------------------------ UNBELIEVABLE PLOT If author John Grisham needs a plot for a new novel of intrigue, he need only look at Eugene. A convoluted tale involving the Eugene City Council, PeaceHealth, Arlie & Co. and the McDougal brothers would make a real page-turner. Only one problem: the story would be too far-fetched for words! (end) [Tony Massengill, Eugene, RG letter to editor, 1/26/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020126/ed.lettersmain.0126.html ------------------------------------------------------------ TIME FOR HOUSE-CLEANING Liz Cawood, spokesperson for the John Musumeci-backed Gang of 9, writes that the Gang has decided to discontinue its ballot measure campaign to promote citywide elections (Register-Guard, Jan. 8). The reason cited by Cawood is that the gang wants time to create community dialogue around the issue. The Gang of 9 and its wheeler-dealer, greed-oriented backers represent the antithesis of community. The gang, including Musumeci and Cawood and, lately, PeaceHealth Hospital Corp., have done more in the past year to poison and discredit the idea of Eugene as a community than any group or individual in the history of the city. The philosophy they represent has nothing to do with the common good as the basis for responsible and ethical business transactions. It is cynicism at its worst to suggest the Gang of 9 is motivated by community. I just finished rereading The Register-Guard's profile of Musumeci, which appeared on Sept. 11 of all days. It is certainly the most sickening news account of corrupt business dealings one could imagine. I congratulate the news staff for the hard work that went into that story. I wonder, however, why the newspaper's editorial board or members of the business community have refrained from any commentaries about the seedy transactions and corrupt philosophy represented by the gang. The attack on New York has invited a time of moral reflection, soul searching and strengthening from within, so that perhaps our nation will be less vulnerable to attack. It seems we in Eugene could benefit from a similar kind of house-cleaning to make the community less vulnerable to predatory attack. (end) [John Kline, Eugene, RG letter to editor, 1/27/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020127/ed.letters.0127.html ------------------------------------------------------------ COMMENTARY: VALUE OF ROE VS. WADE IS TIMELESS A lot has happened since the most recent anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Some of it bears directly on why we take the trouble to mark the day that the Supreme Court of the United States handed down this landmark civil liberties decision 29 years ago. For instance, since last Jan. 22: (more...) [Frank Gibson, RG commentary, 1/22/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020122/ed.col.gibson.0122.html ------------------------------------------------------------ MURDER IS STILL MURDER In his guest column (Register-Guard, Jan. 22), Frank Gibson, the former president of the board of directors of Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon, made the following statement: "The hijackers showed us what 'murder' is. After Sept. 11, it seems less likely that any but true believers will use the term to describe the work of abortion providers." Gibson should realize that what was murder before Sept. 11 is still murder after Sept. 11. If anything, the tragedy of Sept. 11 has made people even more sensitive to the destruction of innocent life. (end) [Art Grandaw, Springfield, RG letter to editor, 1/26/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020126/ed.lettersop.0126.html ------------------------------------------------------------ PLAN COVERS EVERYTHING The initiative process is providing Oregonians with a wonderful opportunity to enact a universal health care plan. Everyone would be covered for everything. No insurance premiums, no deductibles, no co-payments! In addition to standard medical care, dental care and alternative forms of medical care would also be covered. And this whole wonderful package would cost no more than we are currently spending on health care. In fact, most people would be spending less than they spend now. The program would be financed by three sources: the current contributions made by the state and federal government (Medicare, Medicaid, and the Oregon Health Plan); a small payroll tax (but most businesses would save because they would no longer be paying health insurance premiums for their employees); and a small progressive addition to the income tax which would not apply to low-income people. The first step toward bringing such a system to Oregon is to sign the Health Care for All initiative petition. (end) [Peggy Robinson, Springfield, RG letter to editor, 1/23/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020123/ed.letters.0123.html ------------------------------------------------------------ SPRINGFIELD 2001: SIX SECRETS OF OUR SUCCESS Last year, at this very podium, I told you 2001 would be a year of "sharpening the focus" in Springfield... a year when we would have the opportunity to take some exciting steps forward. Just one short year later, IÕm not sure any of us could have predicted the events of the past year in Springfield! We've had a hell of a year! (more...) [Mayor Sid Leiken, Springfield Mayor's State of the City Address, 1/7/02] http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/state_of_city/2002_soc_speech.PDF ------------------------------------------------------------ WRONG SITE FOR ANTENNA I was dismayed to learn recently that Sacred Heart is leasing space on its rooftop to Cricket Wireless for a cell phone (PCS) antenna array. Did anyone in Sacred Heart's administration read the front page of The Register-Guard last Nov. 24? This was one in a series of four articles which explored in some depth the controversy about possible health risks from radio frequency radiation. The government's research on health risks of RFR emitted from transmission towers and antennas is inconclusive. However, studies have found deleterious health effects at levels much lower than the Federal Communications Commission standards. Many citizens in Eugene and the surrounding rural areas have spent a good deal of time, money and energy in efforts to see that cell phone and/or wireless transmission antennas and towers are responsibly placed, well away from homes and schools. I am puzzled as to why Sacred Heart Medical Center, which promotes community health in its mission statement, would install equipment on its rooftop that could well be creating a public health risk for everyone who spends time in the hospital, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. (end) [Nena Lovinger, Fall Creek, RG letter to editor, 1/26/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020126/ed.lettersop.0126.html ------------------------------------------------------------ DEEP DISH WITH DINAH: TAKING THE FIFTH... DIMENSION (#373) It's the Age of Aquarius and peace is breaking out all over. Various organizations in town have called for 2002 in Eugene to be called the Year of Collaboration. Downtown Eugene Inc. and Downtown Advocacy Alliance and even the mayor himself have signed on. Would The 5th Dimension have hit it big with a song that started with "this is the dawning of the year of collaboration"? Well, maybe not, but times have changed. Even the notoriously surly Citizens for Public Accountability (along with Friends of Eugene ) struck an upbeat, "go team" pose in their alternative State of the City address. The Gang of 9 has decided to trust the same councilors they vilified when it comes to proposing changes to how the city elects its city council. The "official" State of the City address ran over two hours and might have gone longer except that every florist in town was sold out of bouquets before the speechifying was done. That was PeaceHealth's Alan Yordy sitting beside ex-columnist Don Bishoff as a fitting tableau of the lion lying down with the lamb. Is it true? Or is it the quiet before the election-year storm? Mayor Jim Torrey was named the Chamber of Commerce's First Citizen of the Year and deservedly so, but why now? Likewise, city councilor Nancy Nathanson was awarded Lane Council of Government's Outstanding Elected Official of the Year. Again, why this year? It could be that the Chamber is pushing Torrey to run for the statehouse and Nathanson to replace him as mayor. And The Gang of 9 might have decided now is not a good time to stir the pot, because you never know when you might be stirring a hornets' nest at the same time. Torrey has told those close to him that he's interested in running for the state legislature, but only if there's a good chance the Republicans will keep a majority. He's also confided that he won't stay mayor while he's running for a seat in Salem because that would preclude an election to replace him if he wins, which would likely result in Councilor David Kelly being appointed by the current majority to finish Torrey's term. But then again, it could be a bunch of good people giving peace a chance. [Dinah, CN column, #373] http://www.something2eat.com/features.cfm?columnist=1&RequestedArticleID=156 ============================================================ OTHER NEWS ============================================================ BUSINESS BEAT: PEOPLE Dr. Gary LeClair has succeeded Dr. Phyllis Brown for a two-year term as chief of staff at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene. He will lead the hospital's 691-member medical and professional staff. His primary responsibilities include monitoring patient care and professional peer review activities. LeClair, a gynecologist with Women's Care of Eugene, has been in practice in Eugene since 1977. He earned his medical degree in 1971 from Baylor College of Medicine. Also, Dr. Vern Katz, a perinatologist with the Center for Genetics & Maternal-Fetal Medicine, has been elected to a two-year term as vice chief of staff at Sacred Heart. His primary responsibilities are to assume the duties and authority in the absence of the chief of staff, assist the chief, and perform additional duties as assigned. Katz has been a member of Sacred Heart's medical staff since 1996. (end) [Mauria Banducci, RG business story, 1/22/02, page 2D] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020122/2d.bz.bizbeat.0122.html ------------------------------------------------------------ INSURANCE / EILEEN ALT POWELL: UNEMPLOYED WORKERS DEPEND ON COBRA Because most Americans depend on their employers for health insurance coverage, losing a job can also mean losing this important company benefit. The solution for many is COBRA, the acronym for the extended health care coverage made available under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1986. It generally lasts just 18 months, and it's not cheap. But experts say it is something even financially pressed families should consider. (more) [Eileen Alt Powell, The Associated Press, RG business story, 1/27/02] http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020127/3f.bz.cobra.0127.html ============================================================ KEY ============================================================ "Health Options Digest" is best read with an email program that recognizes links to web pages. It includes leads from and links to stories and opinions from the following publications: RG = The Register-Guard SN = Springfield News (Follow first link if item is still current, second link if item is past.) EW = Eugene Weekly (Follow first link if item is still current, second link if item is past.) CN = Comic News ODE = Oregon Daily Emerald Oregonian ============================================================ USEFUL LINKS ============================================================ PEACEHEALTH - WILLAMETTE VALLEY http://www.peacehealth.org/Community/owv/ MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE HOSPITAL http://www.mckweb.com/ CITY OF SPRINGFIELD http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/ http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/calendar.htm CITY OF EUGENE http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/ http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/Council/Agenda/AGENDA.htm http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/council/agenda/CCAGENDA.pdf OREGON DEPARTMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/council/agenda/CCAGENDA.pdf ARLIE & COMPANY http://www.arlie.com/ ============================================================ CREDITS ============================================================ "Health Options Digest" is published once a week by the Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES) as a service to the community. It is intended as an unbiased digest of news and commentary related to proposed changes in health care options for the community. The purpose of "Health Options Digest" is to inform, not editorialize. Please forward your copy of "Health Options Digest" to a friend. If you know of someone who should be on the CHOICES email list, send email to rzako@efn.org.