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Friday, January 30, 2004
Rally targets hospital execs
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
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Citizen activists reminded hospital executives at a rally Thursday that there is more to a new, state health-care reform plan than expanding insurance coverage. About 20 members of Maine People's Alliance gathered outside Maine Medical Center, chanting and waving signs that encouraged hospitals throughout the state to participate in efforts to control health-care costs. The state's new program, called Dirigo Health, is intended to expand access to health insurance to the uninsured and under-insured, and rein in health-care expenditures without compromising the quality of care. The goal is to enroll 31,000 Mainers in July, and insure the remaining 130,000 state residents who lack insurance by 2009. Those participating in Thursday morning's rally said hospital executives play a key role in whether the program succeeds. Maine People's Alliance shared a report Thursday that highlighted the six-figure salaries of 44 executives affiliated with Maine Medical Center and its parent company, Maine Health. The salary and benefit packages paid to top executives - such as $597,558 to MMC President Vincent Conti - show hospitals have access to significant financial resources, said Amy Thompson, statewide health-care organizer for the Maine People's Alliance "We want to raise questions about the hospitals' cry of poverty," she said. Last year, during negotiations over Dirigo Health, hospitals refused to accept budget caps suggested by the governor, saying they would have devastated community hospitals and forced layoffs. Sue Pastore, a retired teacher without health insurance and member of the MPA board, said the report casts doubts on hospitals that claimed they would have to resort to layoffs. "I am angry at hospital administrators for threatening the jobs of people who work here," she said. Steven Michaud, president of the Maine Hospital Association, said hospitals are doing their part to contain costs under Dirigo Health. The groups agreed to 3 percent voluntary caps on operating margins and a 3.5 percent voluntary caps on expenses, he said. Maine Medical Center spokesman Wayne Clark said the hospital has never threatened layoffs or closures. The hospital provided $11 million in free care last year, or 23 percent of the amount of free care provided by hospitals statewide, he said. "To assert that hospitals aren't stepping up is plain wrong. It has nothing to do with anyone's salary or how many buildings people own," he said. Michaud said he believes the rally was intended to build support in the Legislature for a hospital tax suggested by some Democrats. Republican lawmakers are looking at taking part of the Dirigo's start-up funding and using it to help plug a $109 million deficit in the current state budget, which runs through June 30. Democrats want to preserve the money, and instead impose a hospital tax that could be used to attract more federal money. "They want to bang away at hospitals, because they think we should eat that tax," Michaud said. Staff Writer Grace Murphy can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:
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