Dear CHOICES Subscribers, There's been some confusion recently about who writes what. (More about that later.) This week, we offer you both my and Dinah's perspectives on hospital issues. I know more about less because I am directly involved and am working for particulars outcomes. Dinah knows more or less about more, because she has better sources and because she understands what makes this town tick as well as anyone. Given that we both hear more or less the same news and rumors, it's not surprising that we draw similar conclusions. Dinah now appears on page 2 of , which used to be known as the Comic News. It's for people in the know, and people who think they are in the know but who really don't know as much as they think -- which could describe any of us. Congratulations to Dinah and publisher Don Kahle on their new adventure! Look for around town. The most significant news this past week wasn't reported in the local newspapers. On Thursday, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) heard oral arguments related to Springfield's recent adoption of plan amendments for a new PeaceHealth hospital. Attorneys representing the Jaqua family, CHOICES, Lane County, the City of Springfield and PeaceHealth were present. A ruling is expected by December 17. Also on Thursday, the Springfield Planning Commission held a public hearing on PeaceHealth's master plan for their hospital site at Gateway. Oddly, no Register-Guard reporter was there. Nor were there any TV crews. We may see a story in the Springfield News this Wednesday. Perhaps the public hearing wasn't news. PeaceHealth brought quite a few "hired guns" and "interested persons" to testify. Arlie testified that it wanted its share of the commercial development pie (and PeaceHealth countered, in effect, that the early bird gets the worm). CHOICES testified, too. But there were few average citizens from the surrounding area. Maybe nearby residents all plan to sell out and move, so what happens in their own backyard is no big deal. Or maybe they question whether the City of Springfield really cares what the average citizen thinks. The spat between Arlie and PeaceHealth was reported by the RG. At issue is who gets to develop 33 acres as mixed-use commercial. The problem exists because the City of Springfield hasn't yet decided where those 33 acres are. Instead, in adopting plan amendments, the City of Springfield adopted a "floating" mixed-use commercial zone. Now Arlie and PeaceHealth are fighting to have that zone float to their property so they can each get a chunk of higher-value commercial development. Part of the purpose of planning is to make basic decisions about what sort of development can go where. Doing so provides predictability and equity. In Springfield, it is often the case that the plans allow for so much "flexibility" that no one really knows what is planned. Whether that is a good thing or bad thing depends on whether you end up getting the long or short end of the stick. In this case, we wouldn't be surprised if Arlie goes to court against the City of Springfield and/or PeaceHealth, as it looks like they are getting the short end of the stick. It kind of makes one long for the good ol' days when Arlie and PeaceHealth worked together to make PeaceHealth's surprise move from Eugene to Springfield possible. Earlier in the week, Friends of Eugene and CHOICES filed notice with LUBA that they are appealing Eugene's recent change to allow a hospital to go just about anywhere in Eugene -- even in your backyard. I can't say more, because I don't know more. This is all in the hands of the attorneys now. The Oregon Department of Human Services ruled that PeaceHealth can operate two hospital campuses under one certificate of need. Of course, PeaceHealth denies being a monopolist or anything like that. But one wonders where McKenzie-Willamette is supposed to go when PeaceHealth is planning to keep one foot on either side of the river, so to speak. Meanwhile, McKenzie-Willamette is conducting a series of public forums to learn what the community thinks about potential sites for their new hospital. If McKenzie-Willamette already knows where they want to build, they sure aren't letting on. Instead, if one goes to one of their public forums, you get the feeling they are really listening and interesting in what the public thinks, rather than telling the public what a great decision they have already made. We commend McKenzie-Willamette for their outreach efforts. We admonish PeaceHealth, which claims to have also conducted an extensive public outreach effort: Effective public involvement is more about listening and less about presenting. Surprisingly, the Lane County Fairgrounds may be back in the running as a possible hospital site, although it is too soon to tell how realistic this option might be. The New York Times reported today that an increasing number of working middle class people are unable to afford health care insurance. This is a national problem, but it highlights a local problem: What good is a great hospital if many people don't have access to it because they can't afford it? How much money should be invested in bricks and mortar, how much in medical technology, and how much in trained care givers? Concerned about rising malpractice premiums and their effect on health care costs, the Oregon Medical Association passed a resolution calling for a limit on malpractice awards. Stu Burge is taking his marbles and going home. Not only has he quit the Springfield City Council, he has now quite the Downtown Springfield Association, which was working to revitalize downtown Springfield. Apparently, he was interested only when he thought the effort would give him all the new business. A new federal courthouse in Eugene appears to be back on track. The West Eugene Parkway may be back on track, too, but that is a long, long story that is far from over. Speaking of Stu Burge, once and future city councilor Christine Lundberg will officially take his seat on Monday. Folks are lining up to replace Tony Corcoran as state senator, but not as anywhere near as many as lined up to replace Tom Lininger as county commissioner. A state senator barely makes minimum wage; a county commissioner makes $70,000 a year plus benefits. In any case, Tony's move will set off a chain reaction in Lane County, the end result of which we won't know for another year. Lastly, the Register-Guard plans to layoff workers, citing reduce ad revenues. We don't always agree with the RG's editorial policies, but we are glad we have a locally-owned paper that covers local issues. We fear that the layoffs will result in less investigative local news, which will leave the public less informed about what is happening in their community. So it's been just another "slow" news week in the Emerald Valley. Whoever reports the news about health care options, we'll do our best to digest it for you. Next time, we'll talk about character flaws, fatal and otherwise... Rob Zako, Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ================================================================================ Will You Remove Those Briefs Please? (#464) Again, the real information isn't getting out there. by Dinah Well, lookee here! Page two; not buried in the middle of the paper floating somewhere between pages 19 and 25. Nobody can say this out loud, but I suspect the powers-that-be have always feared that readers-like-you will flip it open, git yer gossip and stop right there. Making you poke around for dear ole Dinah got more eyeballs on more pages. So maybe this operation really is growing up a bit, less fearful that you won't really like it enough to enjoy the steak after the sizzle. So I'll take this as a good sign; you do too please. PeaceHealth lost to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in their antitrust tussle, which will probably be overturned on appeal, but no matter. The loss is personal and the victory will be technical. Even if PH never forks over a dime in damages, people will point to the opinion of that little jury as proof positive that Sacred Heart has a heartless side. Nobody will really win this struggle in the end, because PeaceHealth will be our dominant health care provider for generations to come, regardless of who dislikes whom. I'm wondering why the settlement language from McK-W board chair Maureen Weathers got passed along to all of us so unfiltered. "This isn't a victory for the hospital, but for the people of Lane County because all the moneys received in settlement will flow to the McK-W foundation that will own 20 percent of the new Triad hospital and will be responsible for charity care." (The quote is something like that. Look it up if you like.) Has nobody asked for assurances that this windfall (if it arrives) won't leave for-profit Triad with no responsibility for charity care (a major PH concern) and nonprofit McK-W with no means to maintain charity care after the awarded twenty mil is gone? Truth is, the Triad deal is more dependent on continued low interest rates than on this or any other victory. With any luck, they'll build their $80 million boutique hospital before the economy picks up enough steam to move the feds to increase lending rates. Add two percentage points to the going rate on secured loans and the highly leveraged Triad chain could find itself on life support. But where are they looking for the 30 acres they say they need? Again, the real information isn't getting out there. It'll be in the center of the area, but which center? Geographic center for the region is Kendall Honda off Coburg Road. Population center is 2nd and Chambers, next to the new firehouse. Fine and good, but there's a third center: don't count people or acres, but dollars. The economic center is more like Cal Young Road, near Delta Ponds (or will be soon, based on housing trends). Triad wants to be just down the road for the richest in Eugene, so when they have that occasional hedge-clipping mishap, they won't dream of driving the hired help across town to get the bleeding stopped. There's a second constituency that matters in this scenario, again not much reported: the docs. Being "on call" is part of a doctor's job, but also impacts quality of life (for the doctors as well as the patients.) Will RiverBend be too far away for south Eugene docs to trundle out to on a rainy winter night? If the Triad hospital is closer, many of those docs may decide to be on call only for the smaller hospital. Advantage, Triad. Finally, people in the know are fearful or ecstatic at the news that former Eugene city manager Jim Johnson has been retained by the city to facilitate the process of finding a location suitable to (not for) Triad. Johnson's reputation is go-along-get-along, so he's not likely to advocate strongly for the city in the process, aiming to get the customer the land it wants. And if that means roads must be built and other pipers must be paid, well, so be it. Mike Gleason would have convinced Triad that a downtown location will work and here's why; but Johnson's skills are better suited to convincing city staff and the council that this north Eugene location is the best we can hope for from the deep-pocketed out-of-towners. If everything above is completely correct, it would be the first time. I can only say this is (some of) what people are talking about. You can always give me your two cents: dinah@comic-news.com (end) http://www.something2eat.com/features.cfm?columnist=1&RequestedArticleID=310 ================================================================================ Health Options Digest November 16, 2003 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR Monday, November 17 -- Taxing question 7:00 p.m., Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield Monday is the day to speak out on whether the city should fold its fire department into the smaller Willakenzie Fire District. The city will hold a public hearing on annexation of the fire department at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 225 Fifth St. The council is not expected to vote on the annexation until Dec. 8, said Steve Roehl, coordinator of the study. The issue in a nutshell: Turning the department over to Willakenzie would free up tax revenue that the city could spend elsewhere, such as on police staffing. The council must decide, however, whether there are enough savings to warrant such a move, and what to do with the additional money -- give taxpayers a rebate? Keep it all, or a portion? (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/15/b1.cr.spcitybeat.1115.html Tuesday, November 18 -- Let's Start Talking About a New Hospital, Phase 2 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m, Special Day-Long Open House, First Floor Elevator Lobby & Hallway, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, 1460 G St., Springfield, 726-4789 McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center has scheduled a series of community open houses. In Phase 2 of our "Let's Start Talking About a New Hospital" series, we will share 1) our criteria for evaluating hospital sites, 2) the status of our site search, and 3) what we learned from our last open house series (June/July 2003). The upcoming open houses are an opportunity for community members to suggest additional sites and criteria, and to ask questions. Information: http://www.mckweb.com/Triad/November2003OpenHouseSchedule..htm Tuesday, November 18 -- Taylor, Neville talk about letters 5:00-6:00 p.m, Cafˇ Paradiso, Olive & Broadway, Eugene EW Editor Ted Taylor and R-G Associate Editor Paul Neville will be sharing the spotlight talking about letters to the editor at City Club's lunch meeting at 11:50 am Friday, Nov. 14. This week City Club will meet at the Wild Duck Music Hall, 169 W. 6th Ave. and the program will be taped and broadcast at 6:30 pm Monday, Nov. 17 on KLCC-FM. The two editors will be talking about how many letters they get, which ones get printed, and what the letters say about our community. Then in a follow-up event, letter writers from the past month are invited to gather with Taylor and Neville from 5 to 6 pm Tuesday at Cafˇ Paradiso for a "letter writers slam" organized by Don Kahle of the Comic News. Letter writers will have an opportunity to read their letters aloud (with feeling) and field questions. For more information, visit . (end) http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/11_13_03/news.html#shorts6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPPORTUNITIES Boards looking for volunteers The city of Springfield needs volunteers. Nine positions are vacant on three city boards -- the Springfield Budget Committee, Springfield Museum Committee and Building Board of Appeals. Residents who live in Ward 6 in east Springfield and Ward 5 in the Thurston area are invited to apply for the Budget Committee. The volunteers review the city's financial plans and policies, including the annual budget. Five people with training or expertise in building design or construction are needed on the Building Board of Appeals. Applicants must be residents, registered voters or property owners in Springfield. Two positions are open on the Museum Committee -- one for the Friends of the Museum Coordinator and one for Hospitality Coordinator. Members must be able to attend evening meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Application forms are available at City Hall, located at 225 Fifth St., and are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 26. For more information, call 726-3700. (end) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/12/local/news10.txt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEACEHEALTH Developer opposes hospital's zoning bid SPRINGFIELD -- An unlikely antagonist to PeaceHealth's proposed $350 million RiverBend medical center surfaced this week, and it's not a land-use watchdog group. Eugene real estate firm Arlie & Co. -- which sold much of the riverside property for the medical facility to PeaceHealth in 2001 -- submitted documents to the Springfield Planning Commission on Thursday night opposing parts of the hospital plan. Arlie asked the city not to take any action on PeaceHealth's rezoning request that might impact a pending Arlie application to create a mixed-use retail, office and residential development right next door to the hospital site. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/15/a1.arlie.1115.html Hospital imagined in 3-D Construction is underway for PeaceHealth's RiverBend medical complex, but the work isn't in the fields between Game Farm Road and the McKenzie River. PeaceHealth has spent $200,000 to build mock-up patient suites and operating rooms in empty warehouses and television studios with the hope of saving thousands of dollars in remodeling costs once the medical center opens in 2007. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/12/local/news04.txt PeaceHealth Progress -- November 2003 A Periodic Update on Facilities Development Plans State Rules on RiverBend, Approves Hospital Sacred Heart Medical Center has received a ruling from the Oregon Department of Human Services that RiverBend is not subject to Certificate of Need review. The state determined that Sacred Heart's two-campus plan doesn't constitute creation of a new hospital because it doesn't involve a substantial increase or change in the services offered. Only new hospitals are subject to CON under state law. Sacred Heart will provide services on two campuses -- RiverBend and Hilyard -- under one hospital license. With this approval, PeaceHealth is one step closer to building an exceptional medical center at RiverBend and upgrading the Hilyard campus to serve the health care needs of the region. Emergency Department Expansion Begins Work has begun on a major upgrade of Sacred Heart Medical Center's Emergency Department. The department is currently 10,700 square feet and sees more than 52,500 patients each year. The $2.1 million construction project will add 3,500 square feet to create 10 new exam bays and a reconfigured entrance for the public and ambulances. Construction should be complete by July 2004. This investment will improve Sacred Heart's ability to care for patients and will set the stage for future renovation of the Hilyard campus after RiverBend opens. Preliminary Excavation Completed Preliminary excavation and grading of the RiverBend site has been completed for the season. The future hospital basement has been partially excavated; the excavated material was used as engineered fill for areas immediately surrounding the future hospital, including parking areas. Building a Hospital from the Ground Up From concept through construction to the grand opening, the process of building RiverBend will take more than five years. Planning, designing and building a one-of-a-kind medical center involves an overwhelming amount of time, creativity, brainpower and community involvement. Over the past year, more than 10,000 staff, volunteer and contractor hours have been spent on the project. Three PeaceHealth staff members are dedicated exclusively to the RiverBend project; however, dozens more contribute to the project and hundreds more attend functional planning workshops. The initial vision for RiverBend was shaped by input from health care design experts and futurists who helped PeaceHealth learn about the changing landscape in health care over the next 100 years. Since then, more than 20 PeaceHealth staff and board members have visited approximately 20 medical facilities across the country to learn about best practices in facility design. PeaceHealth has also created a Patient & Family Council, made up of 60 community volunteers who review items ranging from admission processes to security issues. Key Dates For Approval of RiverBend Master Plan This fall and early winter will be a busy time for the land use specialists, city planners and local officials in Springfield as they review the RiverBend master plan and zone change applications. Key dates (subject to change) for public involvement in the decision process related to the master plan and zone change applications are: * Springfield Planning Commission Public Hearing -- Nov. 13. * Springfield City Council Public Hearing -- Jan. 20, 2004, and, if necessary, Jan. 21. The city council is scheduled to make a final decision on the master plan and zone change application on Feb. 9, 2004. If the council approves the plan and applications, PeaceHealth's next step will be to apply for subdivision and site plan review to construct Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, the Oregon Heart and Vascular Institute, and infrastructure to support both. Employees Get Preview of the Future Nearly 500 PeaceHealth employees recently got a peek at the new technology that may greet them when RiverBend opens. A "Reality Center" was created by IDX Carecast, an information technology partner of PeaceHealth. The center was set up like scenes in a play in a giant sound stage at Chambers Communications, with physicians and nurses demonstrating new technology in care settings including an emergency department, intensive care unit, and a physician's office. Physicians and employees could walk through a day in the life of a patient, seeing how new technology will improve patient safety and quality of care while saving time for patients and staff. Another sound stage featured full-size mock-ups of an operating suite and a patient room. Visitors were invited to closely inspect the rooms and provide input for changes. Employee and physician suggestions will result in dozens of changes to the original design. Outreach Activities Acquaint Community With Project Numerous outreach activities over the past summer have provided area residents with information about the proposed master plan for RiverBend. Open house events were held for Game Farm area neighbors, as well as residents of Eugene and Springfield. Thousands of Lane County residents stopped by PeaceHealth's booth and enjoyed the interactive display at the Lane County Fair, and some 60 local subcontractors attended information sessions to get an overview and learn how projects will be bid and managed. Presentations about RiverBend were also made to a dozen service clubs and agency boards throughout Lane County. Any group wishing to have a presentation should contact PeaceHealth Public Affairs, 686-6868. Sacred Heart's Excellence Nationally Recognized Sacred Heart Medical Center recently won a Consumer Choice Award, based on a study by the National Research Corporation. The award is given to hospitals whose customers rate them as having the best doctors, nurses, quality, image and reputation. More than 3,000 U.S. hospitals were studied nationwide, and 174 earned the award, including three in Oregon. This is the third time Sacred Heart has won the award. Sacred Heart also was recently recognized by a national health care rating company for its overall clinical excellence and its exceptional quality in peripheral vascular bypass surgery. Sacred Heart was the only hospital in Washington and Oregon to receive such distinction in both categories. For more information about the awards, go to . (end) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTITRUST LAWSUIT Hospital coverage slanted Letter by Christine Marshall, Eugene As an employee of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and a resident of Eugene for nearly 12 years, I've watched The Register-Guard's partiality in its coverage of PeaceHealth developments. This was never more apparent than the Nov. 2 editorial, "A blow to PeaceHealth" (Register-Guard, Nov. 2). It's too bad that over the past two years the newspaper failed to demonstrate the same concern for local health care consumers' choice of a less costly alternative, which was being slowly stripped away; or even given as much press to events and contributions that McKenzie-Willamette has made in Lane County. The editors insinuate that the jurors were swayed by "sympathy for the underdog" rather than appalled by the detailed testimonies they heard about PeaceHealth and major insurance carriers' plans to ensure certain health care costs were the highest in the Northwest. This really raises my concerns about how local news information is being presented. Shame on The Register-Guard! (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/10/ed.letters.1110.html Litigation over: What lies ahead for our hospitals? Commentary by Tom Bowerman, Eugene and Fred Felter, Springfield The jury has rendered its decision and it is an undeniable truth is that eight citizens, removed from the substantial local public relations efforts, listened to evidence for 12 days, deliberated for three days, and unanimously concluded that PeaceHealth broke state and federal laws regarding harmful behavior. Prior to this jury decision, there were many claims and counter claims before the "court of public opinion," but this present litigation established an orderly and systematic presentation of evidence and a dispassionate objective rendering of option. The loss of a truly "community owned" hospital should have been of special concern to Springfield leaders, who have thus far taken a very cavalier attitude to this battle. But the jury decision isn't the end. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/12/opinion/news03.txt Verdict reflects PeaceHealth attitude Commentary by Tom Bowerman and Fred Felter, M.D. A Nov. 2 Register-Guard editorial, "A blow to PeaceHealth," minimizes the importance of the antitrust lawsuit verdict and the lessons the community should draw. The conclusion that "the only sure winners are the lawyers" misses the point that to maintain a just society, laws must be upheld. Without the rule of law, society can degrade to savage behavior in which bullies squash the little guy. In this context, the community wins because standards of decency and fairness are upheld. While this litigation probably will be tested by appeal, the undeniable truth is that eight citizens, removed from public relations efforts, listened to evidence for 12 days, deliberated for three days, and unanimously concluded that PeaceHealth attempted to monopolize the local market for hospital services, engaged in price discrimination and unlawfully interfered in McKenzie-Willamette's business relationships. Prior to this jury decision, there were many claims and counter claims before the court of public opinion, but the lawsuit provided an orderly and systematic presentation of evidence and an impartial rendering of verdict. Instead of diminishing the importance of this decision, our community should consider appropriate responses. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/14/a15.ed.col.bowerman.1114.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOSPITAL SITING Hospital users give opinions of sites The message that Roy Orr, CEO of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, heard Monday from Eugene citizens: Build your new hospital in the urban center -- but preferably not by Valley River Center. About 25 people visited the first of three open houses hosted by the Springfield hospital, which hopes to select a home for a new, $80 million facility by the end of the year. McKenzie-Willamette is considering at least a dozen sites that will give it room to grow and adequate distance from its competition, PeaceHealth, which plans to open a new regional medical center in 2007, scarcely two miles from the smaller hospital's current address. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/11/d1.cr.openhouse.1111.html County, hospital look again at fair site The Lane County Fairgrounds may be back on the list of possible sites for the new McKenzie-Willamette hospital. County Administrator Bill Van Vactor asked county commissioners this week to consider putting the fairgrounds back in the running -- and four out of the five commissioners have indicated that they'll at least take a look at the idea. Van Vactor warned in an e-mail to commissioners that the fairgrounds, long beset by financial problems, "cannot continue to operate on existing revenue." He suggested possibly using money from the sale of the fairgrounds to relocate to an unspecified "superior site" somewhere else. McKenzie-Willamette, with partner Texas-based Triad Hospitals, is also willing to take another look at the 55-acre property in the middle of Eugene, spokeswoman Rosie Pryor said. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/14/a1.fairgrounds.1114.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COST OF HEALTH CARE For Middle Class, Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury DALLAS -- The last time Kevin Thornton had health insurance was three years ago, which was not much of a problem until he began having trouble swallowing. "I broke down earlier this year and went in and talked to a doctor about it," said Mr. Thornton, who lives in Sherman, about 60 miles north of Dallas. A barium X-ray cost him $130, and the radiologist another $70, expenses he charged to his credit cards. The doctor ordered other tests that Mr. Thornton simply could not afford. "I was supposed to go back after the X-ray results came, but I decided just to live with it for a while," he said. "I may just be a walking time bomb." Mr. Thornton, 41, left a stable job with good health coverage in 1998 for a higher salary at a dot-com company that went bust a few months later. Since then, he has worked on contract for various companies, including one that provided insurance until the project ended in 2000. "I failed to keep up the payments that would have been required to maintain my coverage," he said. "It was just too much money." Mr. Thornton is one of more than 43 million people in the United States who lack health insurance, and their numbers are rapidly increasing because of ever soaring cost and job losses. Many states, including Texas, are also cutting back on subsidies for health care, further increasing the number of people with no coverage. The majority of the uninsured are neither poor by official standards nor unemployed. They are accountants like Mr. Thornton, employees of small businesses, civil servants, single working mothers and those working part time or on contract. (more...) http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/16/national/16INSU.html?ex=1070014279&ei=1&en=68c21c196eaaa673 Medical group backs limit on malpractice damages Supporters say the cap, only for Oregon Health Plan patients, would make care more widely available The state's largest medical group voted Sunday to push for a cap on damages from malpractice claims against doctors who take care of Oregon Health Plan patients. Proponents touted the proposal on two grounds: relief for doctors faced with rising malpractice premiums, and improved access to care for low-income patients. A recent survey found that half of Oregon's doctors do not see health plan patients, in part because the government doesn't pay enough to cover costs, including premiums. The vote came on a resolution before the Oregon Medical Association's ruling House of Delegates during its semiannual meeting in Portland. Delegates set policy for the association, which represents nearly three out of four of the state's medical and osteopathic physicians. The resolution approved Sunday endorsed giving all Oregon doctors the benefit of the same liability limit -- $500,000 per case -- given to doctors at Oregon Health & Science University and its clinics. The limit would apply only to care of patients under the Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program for low-income residents. The move would require a vote by the Legislature -- and possibly a change in the state constitution. (more...) http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1068469366125320.xml Health clinic coming to town: Facility slated to open July 2004; 'Best thing in a long time' -- Dwyer A medical clinic will open in Springfield next summer for patients who can't afford their medical bills and insurance premiums. Community Health Center Metro Clinic, a federally qualified and funded project, will open in the McKenzie Family Practice building at 1640 G St. next July to serve low-income and poor residents. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/12/local/news02.txt Panel approves plan to move fire district; now it's time for public input A 15-member panel has endorsed a plan for the city of Springfield to get out of the fire and emergency services business, but the group doesn't have the final say. Mayor Sid Leiken and Council President Tammy Fitch are counting on citizens to line up at 7 p.m. Monday night to comment on a proposal for the city to hand over services to the Willakenzie Fire District. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/14/local/news05.txt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEARBY DEVELOPMENTS Downtown revitalization group quits SPRINGFIELD -- The latest downtown revitalization effort is over before it began. Stu Burge, who recently resigned from the City Council to spend more time with his family, disbanded the Downtown Springfield Association this week after learning that his group won't be the sole recipient of new money for downtown. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/13/d1.cr.downtown.1113.html Courthouse project moves ahead; GSA set to negotiate land purchase The courthouse is back on track. A federal official said Thursday that the U.S. government will proceed with plans to buy land downtown for a $70 million courthouse, almost two months after it suspended negotiations because of a lack of public support and other obstacles. The city has taken the proper steps to show that the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse will be a success, said Jon Kvistad, regional administrator for the General Services Administration. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/14/a1.courthouse.1114.html A new partnership: Courthouse project to proceed on firmer footing Register-Guard Editorial As many a married -- and divorced -- person will attest, conflict can either make or break a marriage. In the case of the city of Eugene and the General Services Administration, the result has been nothing less than a wholehearted reaffirmation of vows. GSA Regional Administrator Jon Kvistad's announcement Thursday that his agency has resumed plans to build a new federal courthouse on a city-owned site in downtown Eugene marks a happy ending to a gut-wrenching two-months of uncertainty over the long-anticipated project. Now, the project moves forward on solid footing -- far more solid than before the GSA shocked city officials by suspending its purchase of the former Agricpac cannery property as the site for the $70 million project. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/14/ed.edit.courthouse.phn.1114.html Eugene to explore options for 'daylighting' buried millrace The Eugene Millrace may yet see the light of day. In a unanimous vote, city councilors directed the staff Monday night to explore options for designing and financing a "full daylighting" of a quarter-mile section of the old waterway that has been buried for 51 years in a 30-inch pipe. Findings are to be brought back to the council next June. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/11/d1.cr.millrace.1111.html Let the water flow: City should seize chance to 'daylight' millrace Register-Guard Editorial You can already hear the protesters shouting: "Free the millrace!" "Let the water flow!" "Give us a canal or give us death!" OK, the slogans leave something to be desired. And it's doubtful that the cause of uncovering the long-buried millrace in the new federal courthouse neighborhood will draw many protesters or inspire acts of civil disobedience. (How do you chain yourself to an underground pipe?) But the opportunity to revive the millrace is nonetheless one that the city should seize, even if the cost is substantial and the logistics difficult. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/12/ed.edit.millrace.phn.1112.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Parkway appeal draws city response A divided and skeptical Eugene City Council responded on Wednesday to all points raised in an appeal of planning amendments made a year ago to accommodate the West Eugene Parkway. But critics on the council continued to question the wisdom of pursuing what they maintain is a doomed bypass that would connect downtown Eugene with Highway 126 west of Greenhill Road. They also said the appeal issues would be better dealt with after the Oregon Department of Transportation issues a re-evaluation of the project -- probably within the next couple of weeks. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/13/d1.cr.parkway.1113.html I-5 Bridge Update Work on the Interstate 5 replacement bridges over the McKenzie and Willamette rivers continues this week. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/16/c2.cr.bridgeupdate.1116.html Cracks open prospect of new work on Ferry Street Bridge You may remember the Ferry Street Bridge. More specifically, you may remember the flagging crews and orange traffic cones, the long lines of backed-up vehicles and the moaning and complaining -- all of which accompanied a $30 million update of the bridge that began in 1997 and wrapped up in 2000. There may be more coming -- but mercifully, not on the same scale. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/16/c1.cr.citybeat.1116.html Road User Task Force to meet The Oregon Road User Task Force will meet on Nov. 21. in Salem to discuss actions taken by the 2003 Legislature. The task force will discuss how to prepare an implementation plan for a pilot test program using a mileage free concept. The Legislature established the task force in 2001 to examine possible revenue options for transportation funding. Next Friday's meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 122 of the Transportation Building, located at 355 Capitol St. NE in Salem. (end) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/14/business/news04.txt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER NEWS Lundberg ushered in to council seat "Current" will replace "former" in front of Christine Lundberg's title when she takes her seat at the City Council meeting next week. Springfield City Council, short one member, agreed during a work session Monday night that the Ward 1 resident, who served as a councilor from 1999 to 2002, will fill Stu Burge's seat. Burge was in office 10 months of his four-year term and resigned to spend more time with his family. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/11/12/local/news03.txt Lundberg set to rejoin council after brief hiatus Christine Lundberg is the city's newest councilor, having succeeded the man who succeeded her less than a year ago. Lundberg will join the council Monday evening as the representative for Ward 1, the city's northwest corner, where she replaces Stu Burge, who resigned earlier this month after a 10-month stint. Check your scorecards and you'll see that Burge replaced Lundberg at the end of 2002. Lundberg, who has lived in Springfield for more than 20 years, resigned last year to make more time as a mother. She's still a mom, but Lundberg said Friday her four kids are in support of seeing her back on the council. Tops on Lundberg's agenda is the PeaceHealth proposal to build a $400 million regional medical center smack-dab in the middle of her ward. The City Council will decide in February whether to approve the 160-acre development plan. Lundberg's a supporter of the project, in part because she'd rather deal with one big property owner -- PeaceHealth -- than the countless little ones that would have sprung up had the city chosen to build out the area with apartments. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/15/b1.cr.spcitybeat.1115.html 3 line up to succeed Corcoran in Senate Democratic Party delegates could find themselves with an easy choice Friday when they meet to pick three nominees to replace resigned Sen. Tony Corcoran. The 75 or so participants are being asked to vote for their three top choices. And as it stands, that's the number of candidates who have declared their interest in seeking appointment to Corcoran's old Senate District 4 seat. Barring the appearance of any last-minute candidates or other surprises, it's likely that state Rep. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene, businesswoman Shirley Cairns of Oakland and businessman Don Nordin of Cottage Grove will emerge victorious from this round in the selection process. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/16/c1.cr.dist4.1116.html Publisher announces plan to reduce newspaper staff Citing the continued weak local economy, Guard Publishing Co., publisher of The Register-Guard, on Tuesday said it will cut a number of positions at the newspaper. Through layoffs, attrition and cutbacks in hours, the newspaper will eliminate the equivalent of about 20 full-time jobs, publisher and editor Tony Baker said. The paper now has 293 full-time employees and 151 part-timers. The cuts will be carried out in the next week or so, Baker said. Managers are still evaluating exactly how many employees will lose their jobs, he said. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/11/12/d14.bz.guard.1112.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDITS "Health Options Digest" is published once every week or so 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 opinion 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, or for questions about your subscription, send email to: rzako@efn.org Please visit our web site for info about how you can contact us, the local papers, elected officials, PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette: http://www.efn.org/~choices