============================================================ Health Options Digest February 5, 2002 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield ============================================================ * EDITOR'S LETTER * MAJOR NEWS - Decline in patients led to hospital lawsuit preparation last summer - Jury may set course for region's health care - Half-acre holdout finally sells out * COMMENTARY - Jesse Springer: Cartoon - Consider hospital choice - Hospital site dangerous - Squandering money - Cheers for 'McWillie' - Commentary: Hospital's goal of holding down cost of care no simple task * OTHER NEWS - Springfield city beat: Developer withdraws his offer for hot property in Gateway - Arlie & Co. rescinds offer for city land - Development report: Medical offices will go up south of harlow road - Forecast 2002: UO jobs buttress building trades - Forecast 2002: Job training: health care is hot - Forecast 2002: Lost job opens door to school, new career * KEY * USEFUL LINKS * CREDITS ============================================================ EDITOR'S LETTER ============================================================ Too much news or too much email? For the past two months, CHOICES has published "Health Options Digest" once a week as a service to the community. Our goal has been to offer an unbiased summary of different stories and perspectives on health options for our community without overwhelming our readers with too much email. But the flow of news and commentary has been more of a flood than a trickle, and shows no sign of stopping. Indeed, just the tables of contents for some recents issues have exceeded a page (screen) in length! In response, we have decided to begin publishing "Health Options Digest" more than once a week. We are considering having a mid-week edition, which will be strickly news and commentary, and a weekend edition, which will be more focused on "news you can use" -- notices of public meetings and opportunities for involvement. "Health Options Digest" is still a work in progress. Please let us know what you think, and how we can make it more useful for you! Rob Zako Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ============================================================ MAJOR NEWS ============================================================ DECLINE IN PATIENTS LED TO HOSPITAL LAWSUIT PREPARATION LAST SUMMER McKenzie-Willamette Hospital officers started preparations last summer to sue not only PeaceHealth Oregon Region but also two insurance providers, McKenzie documents show. McKenzie filed a federal antitrust lawsuit Monday alleging that PeaceHealth arranged with Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon to keep McKenzie off Regence's list of preferred providers for group insurance plans. The suit seeks punitive damages of $20 million and economic damages estimated at $15 million. Documents the hospital released Thursday show McKenzie prepared in August to sue Regence and Providence Health Systems. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/community/sn_community.htm#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0202/community/sn_community.htm#TopOfPage [Tim Shinabarger, SN front page story, 2/2/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ JURY MAY SET COURSE FOR REGION'S HEALTH CARE If and when McKenzie-Willamette Hospital's antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth goes to trial, a jury will be asked to decide two key legal questions: * Does PeaceHealth have a monopoly, or dominant market power, in the Lane County hospital market? * If so, did PeaceHealth compete fairly, or did it use its market power to engage in "predatory" tactics intended to drive its weaker competitor out of business? How a jury answers those questions could determine how health care is delivered in the southern Willamette Valley for decades. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020203/1a.peacehealthfolo.0203.html [Tim Christie, RG front page story, 2/3/02, page 1A] ------------------------------------------------------------ HALF-ACRE HOLDOUT FINALLY SELLS OUT Springfield - Land speculator John Musumeci isn't the only one who has made a tidy sum selling property in the Gateway area to PeaceHealth for its proposed new hospital. Gateway resident Frank Cronin is beaming these days about the sale of his old house and half acre on Baldy View Road to PeaceHealth for $245,000 - nearly three times the property's assessed value. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020205/1b.bz.arlie.0205.html [Christian Wihtol, Business Editor, RG busines story, 2/5/02, page 1B] ============================================================ COMMENTARY ============================================================ JESSE SPRINGER: CARTOON [Analogy to Tianamen Square: PeaceHealth vs. McKenzie-Willamette] http://jessespringer.home.mindspring.com/html/current_cartoons.htm Attachment: springer20020202.gif [Jesse Springer, RG cartoon, 2/2/02, used by permission] ------------------------------------------------------------ CONSIDER HOSPITAL CHOICE Wouldn't it be nice if money didn't constantly interfere with our decisions and dictate how we live? Just think what it would be like if we could still simply base our decisions on integrity, common sense and community values. I am sure if this were the case we would all decide to welcome McKenzie-Willamette as our preferred hospital and tell PeaceHealth to take its high-powered maneuvering back to Bellevue, Wash. Give it some thought and ask yourself: Does PeaceHealth care about our communities and our lives, or just our livelihoods? Has Sacred Heart become sacred money? If we have to make a choice between the two hospitals, I've made mine. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020202/ed.letters.main.0202.html [Patrick Thompson, Marcola, RG letter to editor, 2/2/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ HOSPITAL SITE DANGEROUS An insert in The Register-Guard on Jan. 28 shows PeaceHealth's new hospital being built by the McKenzie River in Springfield. Let's review some basics: 1) The Pacific Northwest is due for a subduction earthquake with a magnitude of 8 to 9.5 on the Richter scale. (They happen approximately every 300 to 500 years, and the last one was 302 years ago.) 2) Subduction quakes impact structures on fault lines even more strongly than other areas. 3) Rivers typically follow fault lines. Why would officials opt to build a hospital upon such a vulnerable site? Who would want to deny the residents of this area a much-needed hospital in a time of emergency by building it at such a vulnerable location where it's likely to be destroyed? It would surely have less potential damage if built somewhere else, would it not? Is it that the people who are making these decisions don't know? Are they really that incompetent? Even California forbids the building of schools and public facilities (including hospitals) on or near fault lines. When people lack the knowledge, wisdom or just basic common sense to try to avert such tragedies, is it not incumbent upon others to call them to accountability? Evidently, we need legislation to rein in those who would make such irrational, dangerous choices. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020202/ed.letters.op.0202.html [John E. English, Springfield, RG letter to editor, 2/2/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ SQUANDERING MONEY Now our health dollars are going to finance the fight between PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette hospitals, as they duke it out for the most coveted insurance money. I believe this may result in our health care dollars being flung as far afield as they've ever been. We should feel indignant at financing a fight that greed created. Meanwhile, some people are going without health care and are enduring hardships to pay exorbitant health care costs. These hospitals are the health care industry in our community; they are here to serve our needs, yet they are spending their time trying to grab insurance dollars. The source of dollars for the hospitals and the insurance companies is me: the consumer, the worker. Members of the health provision industry take our money, buy insurance, buy attorneys and wage war on each other. We let them, but we don't have to. We live in Oregon, and we have a choice for health care that bypasses all of these people and lets us deal directly with our care providers. Let our care providers compete against each other for our business, and everyone else can stay out of our business! Find a copy of the petition for the Health Care for All Oregon initiative, sign it and then vote for health care that won't squander your money on corporate arguments. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020202/ed.letters.op.0202.html [Jane Moodie, Eugene, RG letter to editor, 2/2/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ CHEERS FOR 'MCWILLIE' Hooray for McKenzie-Willamette! I am one of those people whose insurance company now denies me a choice of hospitals. PeaceHealth's mission is apparently not just to provide health care but to make sure nobody else can provide it. This situation also underscores the need for the Health Care for All initiative now being circulated, which would not limit choice. Meanwhile, my appreciation goes to "McWillie" for fighting back. http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020204/ed.letters.0204.html [A. O. Erickson, Eugene, RG letter to editor, 2/4/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ COMMENTARY: HOSPITAL'S GOAL OF HOLDING DOWN COST OF CARE NO SIMPLE TASK At sacred heart Medical Center, our primary obligation to the community is to provide the best possible health care at the lowest possible cost. That sounds simple, but fulfilling this obligation is anything but. We operate in a highly regulated industry and use complex medical, business and information systems to deliver care to tens of thousands of patients every year. Typically, a discussion of the intricacies of the health care system causes people's eyes to immediately glaze over. But recent events have compelled us to address some of these issues publicly. Those events include McKenzie-Willamette's antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth and statements by Wes Anderson, the human resources director for Rosboro Lumber in Springfield. In a Jan. 27 letter to The Register-Guard, Anderson accused PeaceHealth of playing hardball with local companies by forcing people to go to Sacred Heart Medical Center for their care. The same sentiments were echoed in McKenzie-Willamette's lawsuit. Some facts on health insurance might help put these accusations into context. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020204/ed.col.peacehealth.0204.html [Skip Kriz and Bess Price, RG commentary, 2/4/02] [Skip Kriz is chief financial officer for PeaceHealth's Oregon region. Bess Price is director of managed care contracting for PeaceHealth's Oregon Region. Both work in Eugene.] ============================================================ OTHER NEWS ============================================================ SPRINGFIELD CITY BEAT: DEVELOPER WITHDRAWS HIS OFFER FOR HOT PROPERTY IN GATEWAY A mini bidding war played out this week for a prime chunk of Gateway property, and feisty developer John Musumeci waved the white flag. After learning that communications magnate Carolyn Chambers had bid $5.4 million for the 22-acre parcel at International and Sports Way, Musumeci, of Arlie & Co., withdrew his bid of $5.35 million. "The city is fortunate to have a better offer from a most capable bidder, Carolyn Chambers," Musumeci wrote in a Jan. 30 letter to City Hall. No bid has been accepted yet and the city continues to position itself to get the best offer it can get. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020202/1b.cr.spcitybeat.0202.html [Matt Cooper, RG city & region story, 2/2/02, page 1B] ------------------------------------------------------------ ARLIE & CO. RESCINDS OFFER FOR CITY LAND Eugene land company Arlie & Co. has withdrawn its $5.35-million offer to purchase 22 acres of city-owned property on Sports Way, a company officer said Friday. The announcement came four days after the city received a higher offer and three days after Arlie informed the city it won't make another bid for the property. In a letter to Mayor Sid Leiken, Arlie co-owner John Musumeci reaffirmed the company's commitment to donate about 10 acres of land in mid-Springfield to Broad Base Programs Inc. for its proposed indoor sports facility. The city now leases the Sports Way property to Kidsports and Broad Base. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/news/frontpage/sn_frontpage-01.htm#TopOfPage http://www.springfieldnews.com/2002/news0202/frontpage/sn_frontpage-01.htm#TopOfPage [Tim Shinabarger, SN front page story, 2/2/02] ------------------------------------------------------------ DEVELOPMENT REPORT: MEDICAL OFFICES WILL GO UP SOUTH OF HARLOW ROAD Filling Up: More medical office space is planned for Springfield's Gateway area, coincidentally on land purchased from McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. Willamette Medical Center LLC, a group headed by Eugene developer Wally Graf, has purchased a vacant 1.3-acre parcel off Harlow Road, behind the Pacific Continental Bank building and just southwest of the SELCO Credit Union service center. Graf said Monday that he's planning to build a three-story, 25,000-square-foot medical office structure on the site. Graf said the entire building has been leased. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020205/1b.bz.develop.0205.html [RG Business Staff, RG business story, 2/5/02, page 1B] ------------------------------------------------------------ FORECAST 2002: UO JOBS BUTTRESS BUILDING TRADES If Lane County's construction industry manages to escape largely unbruised from Oregon's economic recession this year, it will have the likes of UO Duck fans and business executive Charles Lillis to thank. (...) Taking the long view, [Eugene industrial] broker [Bob] Graham said development goes in peaks and valleys over the years, with government work taking the lead some years, and private-sector work taking the lead in others. Once PeaceHealth sets to work on its new $350 million hospital in the Gateway area in 2005, the county's construction industry will be extremely busy, Graham said. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020203/5h.ss.construct.0203.html [Christian Wihtol, RG special section story, 2/3/02, page 5H] ------------------------------------------------------------ FORECAST 2002: JOB TRAINING: HEALTH CARE IS HOT Connie Fullmer, a 27-year-old Sweet Home resident, worked a string of retail and manufacturing jobs before enrolling in Lane Community College's program to train as a dental hygienist. Her last job was at Santiam Forest Products in Sweet Home, first as a laborer, then tracking inventory. "I got tired of physical labor," Fullmer said. "I thought, I've got to stop doing this or I'll kill myself by the time I'm 40." Unlike mill work, jobs in dental hygiene typically follow a regular work day, with weekends off. Plus, Fullmer said, the relatively high pay in hygiene gives her the option of working just two or three days a week. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020204/1h.ss.train.0203.html [Sherri Buri McDonald, RG special section story, 2/3/02, page 1H] ------------------------------------------------------------ FORECAST 2002: LOST JOB OPENS DOOR TO SCHOOL, NEW CAREER Rachel Leonhardy had been working for SelectCare, PeaceHealth's Eugene-based health insurance company, for six years when PeaceHealth sold the venture to a Portland-based provider in June 1999. As a single parent without a college degree, Leonhardy said she had been afraid to walk away from the security of a job that paid $15 an hour and provided full benefits. "But then that security walked away from me," she said. Providence bought SelectCare and moved the operation to Portland. That prompted Leonhardy to consider a new career that required going back to school. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/20020204/8h.ss.trainside.0203.html [Sherri Buri McDonald, RG special section story, 2/3/02, page 8H] ============================================================ 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.lcd.state.or.us/ ARLIE & COMPANY http://www.arlie.com/ ============================================================ CREDITS ============================================================ "Health Options Digest" is published once or twice 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.