HEALTH CARE TOUR

GRANTS - Cibola General Hospital hosted Representative Harry Teague on Aug. 8 as part of the “Harry in Your Hometown” tour during the Congressional August recess.

The Congressman wanted to hear feedback from health professionals regarding the House bill on health care reform.

Hospital CEO Ken Cochran, hospital board members and at least one physician answered questions posed by Rep. Teague and clarified the problems faced by rural health care providers.

While acknowledging that the health care bill is very long, Rep. Teague wanted to know the challenges faced by a “sole provider” hospital. “How high are your indigent claims and charity care costs?” he asked.

“Indigent claims are 10 percent of our billings and charity care accounts for three to four percent for a total of $5.4 million in free and subsidized care,” Cochran replied. “As the sole community provider we are obligated to take these cases.”

Rep. Teague asked about the practicality of the practice of “bundling” for a hospital like CGH. “It's a great idea for nursing homes and big hospitals like Presbyterian, but not so practical for a small rural hospital. In order for us to get the first share of the 'bundle,' we'd have to draw up contracts with doctors and the nursing homes,” Cochran explained.

“What we end up with is a push-pull between the doctors and the hospitals.”

The congressman asked about transfer issues, when a patient has to be moved to a larger Albuquerque hospital. “Would the larger hospital get paid first?” he asked.

Cochran suggested letting the big hospitals with their own health insurance plans work out the kinks.

Another question involved physician-owned hospitals. “Would the doctors order unnecessary tests to increase the bottom line?” Rep Teague asked.

Dr. Jane Pitts described a physician-owned hospital in North Carolina, where she used to live. “Until the hospital changed hands, it was the least expensive local hospital and now it's the most expensive. The doctors used to accept livestock as payment,” she said.

Pitts related that the physician-owned Heart Hospital in Albuquerque will often accept her patients for treatment after they've been turned down by University of New Mexico Hospital.

Cochran expressed the view that physician-owned acute care hospitals are a good idea, but physician-owned specialty hospitals are not.

The congressman asked if corporate hospitals are squeezing out the physician-owned and smaller hospitals.

“Physicians are being squeezed out of in-office labs and x-rays,” Cochran said.

“We are poorly paid by Medicare and there is no nationwide standard for compensation,” Pitts remarked.

Cochran pointed out that CGH has to compete with the larger cities in salaries for medical support staff, thus raising costs even more.

Both Cochran and Pitts cited the need for tort reform to protect physicians. “Doctors have an extreme responsibility. If we're going to ask for evidence-based medicine, we need to protect the doctors from lawsuits,” Cochran said.

Pitts echoed that sentiment and added that health care providers and patients need to be at the table during discussion of health care reform. “It seems that the patient is lost in all the debate,” she said.

“We also need insurance reform. I have one employee whose entire job is talking to insurance companies to see if my patients are covered for services,” she added.

Local businessman Walter Meech asked about coverage of illegal aliens in the legislation and board member Lawrence Sanchez said that all children should receive medical services regardless of their legal status.

Rep. Teague later held a public meeting at the Cibola Convention Center.