Your Say

Editor's note: This letter is in response to Philip Betbeze's Nov. 20 online column, "What's the Truth About Your Hospital's Financial Health?"

A Bridge to Reform That Helps Hospitals
We have seen articles that tell us unemployment is higher than expected, insurers see small companies dropping coverage at a rate of 50%, hospitals in Cincinnati have seen their charity care write-offs go up 15%. This doesn't sound like good news for hospitals. As hospitals sit down with their contracted insurers to negotiate rates, they are being told the threshold has been reached. Insurers will no longer pass along the government payment shortfalls to their customers.

There needs to be immediate action. Let's call it "the bridge to reform" that assists hospitals during this transition time. I would suggest that we take one of the reform items—the power of presumptive eligibility—and give it to hospitals now. We cannot wait for states to allow it when today they have 30% of their population uninsured who could be covered.

Hospitals must have the ability to enroll patients at the time of service. It helps the patients get a primary care physician and move out of the emergency room track, and it helps hospitals stop becoming the payer of last resort through charity care. We have created a disincentive for people to enroll because they can receive free care in the emergency room and not be hassled to fill out personal paperwork.

Hospitals don't have the deep pockets the pharmaceutical companies and insurers have to wait for reform. Why shouldn't hospitals get paid for their services and at the same time provide the type of healthcare that reform is trying to instill?

Jim McNiff
Associate Vice President of Health Services Receivable
Montefiore Medical Center, New York City

Editor's note: This letter is in response to Philip Betbeze's Nov. 13 online column, "Swine Flu Vaccine Offers Lessons in Leadership."

Vaccine Decisions Can be Tough
Our hospital, like many others, had a large portion of our workforce that elected not to get the H1N1 vaccination. That puzzles me because many of this group faithfully get the seasonal vaccination yearly.

I have two children and am worried about contracting the H1N1 and passing it along to my children. I could not bear the thought of potentially losing either one of my children to H1N1. My oldest son has Asperger's syndrome, and I have to say, it was not an easy decision to have my children vaccinated. I understand the risk associated with any vaccination. I would not be critical of anyone who makes an educated decision not to get vaccinated.

Linda M. Weiss
Public Relations Manager
O'Bleness Memorial Hospital, Athens, OH