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Legislature Considers New Cuts to Maine Hospitals
April 1, 2009
(Lincoln, ME--) The Maine Legislature is once again considering significant cuts to hospitals across the state. “Many of our counterparts have already been forced to cut services and positions,” says David A. Shannon, the CEO of Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln. “Our Senior Leadership Team has managed to shave more than half a million dollars out of the 2009 budget without cutting any services or full time jobs, but if more cuts are handed down from the state or federal level, I’m not sure we can maintain our current level of operations.”
Last week, the legislative Health and Human Services Committee recommended cuts to inpatient and outpatient physician reimbursement at hospitals, as well as cutting Critical Access Hospital reimbursement by 11%. The reimbursement cuts would be quite severe for PVH—about $700,000 in the next year. Making the situation even more difficult for PVH, the Committee voted to increase the tax on hospitals. “Even though we are a non-profit, we pay about $500,000 in state taxes per year,” says Shannon.
The leadership at PVH is asking people to contact our local legislators and members of the Appropriations Committee to ask them to please vote against these additional cuts to Maine hospitals. You can use the following site to access the appropriate emails accounts:
Shannon plans to hold “round the clock” meetings with employees to make sure everyone who would like to discuss the possible cuts has an opportunity to talk with him, directly. “I want to give people a chance to ask questions and feel like they’re in the loop. There are some things that are out of my control, but one thing I can do is make sure the lines of communication are open.”
PVH provides a significant community benefit to the Lincoln Lakes Region. “This rural hospital is a life-saving facility for many people and offers convenient services to folks who might not be able to travel to Bangor,” says PVH Spokesperson Allison Bankston. “It’s important that the 13 communities we serve recognize how much more difficult it would be for many people if PVH was not around to provide care.” Bankston says the list of what the community gains from PVH is not small.
In 2008, the hospital handled or performed more than:
· 47,000 patient visits
· 8,400 visits to the emergency room
· 1,000 surgical visits
· 100 newborns
· 1,800 ambulance runs
· 3,000 EKGs
· 34,000 respiratory therapy treatments
· 92,000 lab tests
· 8,900 physical therapy visits
· 3,300 speech therapy treatments
· 3,000 occupational therapy visits
· 1,200 cases involving nuclear medicine
· 1,400 mammograms
· 1,600 CT scans
· 180 bone density tests
· 650 MRIs
Free Care:
As more and more Mainers are going without insurance, PVH is providing more “Free Care.” The hospital does not turn away people who need vital care, regardless of whether they have insurance or if they are able to pay out of pocket. Consequently, during 2008, PVH gave away more than $942,000 in free care, which was an increase of about 19% over what was provided for free during 2007.
PVH provides a number of other services to the community including:
· Childbirth Education
· Diabetes Seminars
· Diabetes Activity Classes
· Drug Use Prevention Programs
· Physical Activity Promotions
· Sun Safety Programs
· Fundraising for Local Food Cupboard
· Nutrition Education
· Public CPR and First Aid Classes
· Meeting Space for Non-Profits (Alcoholics Anonymous, Eastern Agency on Aging, etc.)
· Tours for Local Kids and Clubs
· Speakers’ Bureau for Community Groups and Events
The hospital dedicates several hours of manpower a month to support the Wellness Council of Maine, promoting wellness in the workplace and encouraging businesses to change their policies toward healthier workforces and promoting wellness activities and lifestyles.
PVH partners with a variety of agencies including:
· Local schools for wellness education and disaster preparedness.
· Health Access network for pandemic flu and disaster planning.
· Millinocket Regional Hospital for a variety of services and preparedness planning as well as specialty care.
· Public Safety Departments for disaster planning and preparing for violent situations.
· Eastern Maine Medical Center for diagnostic, imaging, and dialysis services.
· Municipalities for events such as the Expo and Homecoming Weekend.
· Region III to help students job shadow and get mentoring in key areas.
· Colleges and universities to foster internships, mentoring programs, and job placement.
As one of the largest employers in the area, PVH provides livelihoods for more than 200 people in the Lincoln Lakes Region. Also, by bringing people in the region to the hospital in Lincoln for care, people from the outlying areas enjoy other local businesses. For instance, the man from Medway who comes to PVH for an x-ray may also take the time to stop at Wal-Mart, Marden’s and other businesses while in town. Having Lincoln as a hub for emergency care and other health services benefits the other agencies and businesses in the area.
Last week, the Governor authorized the Department of Health and Human Services to use money from the federal stimulus package to pay old MaineCare debts owed to hospitals, but this money only repays PVH for services provided to MaineCare patients several years ago. Payment of these overdue bills does not alleviate the devastating impact the proposed cuts will have on PVH and the hospital’s ability to maintain the current level of services. PVH is asking people to show their support by contacting local legislators and expressing opposition to these proposed cuts to Maine hospitals.
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