Alabama Certificate Of Need Law causes Shoals patient suffering as Huntsville Hospital, Helen Keller Hospital & RegionalCare Hospital Partners feud

Here is another prime case in point why the state of Alabama should eliminate the Certificate of Need Board, the CON law, and the entire process associated with it.

First, aren’t companies and their Chief Executives, Financial Officers, Managers and others capable of determining whether or not they could provide services in a cost-effective, or even profitable manner?

Yes, they are. So why should government – by and through the CON law – tell them that they are incompetent to do so, and in fact, forbid them from making that decision?

Literally, if Bill Gates wanted to build a free hospital in Alabama, he could NOT because FIRST he would have to obtain permission from the CON Board. And just to eliminate any confusion, a CON Board permit to build a hospital is NOT a construction permit. In fact, a CON Board permit must FIRST be obtained BEFORE a construction permit is granted.

For those not aware of what the CON Board does, they are a group of politically-appointed individuals before whom any group, organization or individual desiring to build a hospital must cajole, plead and beg for permission to build a hospital.

They must literally make and prove a case for why a hospital is needed before they can even move the first shovelful of dirt. Even then, if they are not given permission from “BIG BROTHER” to build a hospital, they must then appear before a judge to further plead their case. And strangely, they’re not merely opposed, but are actively fought, tooth and nail throughout the entire process by the very folks that should be helping improve patient health and providing care… other hospitals. It forces healers to become sworn cutthroat enemies.

And just so you, dear reader, will be aware, the original CON law was first written by the U.S. Congress, the purpose of which was designed to keep healthcare costs from increasing at an uncontrolled rate. However, the Congress quickly abandoned and rescinded the law after it was demonstrated that it had no effect upon rapidly escalating costs. The only state to NOT enact any form of CON law was Louisiana.

I’ve written about the process here on this blog (Tuesday, June 22, 2010), and have, as a private citizen, communicated with the Alabama state legislature and governor to encourage them to abolish the law, board and process.

If you care at all about healthcare – either for you, your family, loved ones, friends or anyone – I wholeheartedly encourage you to read that post, because it more fully details the reasons why the CON process actually serves to deteriorate public health, and drain Alabama’s public tax dollars.

In a nutshell, the fussing, fighting, feuding that is associated with the CON process co$t$ $ignificantly, which co$t$ are pa$$ed onto the patient & in$urance companie$.
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Hospital wars invade city council meeting

6/20/12, By Robert Palmer, Staff Writer

FLORENCE – The behind-the-scenes struggle between publicly owned Helen Keller Hospital and Huntsville Hospital and privately owned RegionalCare Hospital Partners has invaded the local political arena.

In its Tuesday work session, the Florence City Council voted unanimously to place a resolution on its next meeting agenda to reopen the bid process for ambulance service. Florence and most of Lauderdale County are now served by Lauderdale EMS, which is owned by Helen Keller Hospital.

Sheffield-based Keller and its partner, Huntsville Hospital, have indicated they are filing objections with the state to RegionalCare’s plan to build a new hospital in Florence. The company bought Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence more than a year ago with the intent of replacing the aging, formerly publicly owned Coffee hospital.

The motion to rebid the ambulance service was introduced by Councilmen Sam Pendleton and Andy Betterton.

“My first obligation is to look out for the people of Florence, and to see that this new hospital is built,” Pendleton said. “I want Helen Keller out of it.”

Pendleton said he has been told by some local doctors that Lauderdale EMS is taking patients to Keller and Huntsville when they could be just as well served at Coffee. He also said he has been told that Huntsville Hospital is buying local medical practices in an effort to strengthen its market position in the Tennessee Valley.

“I have not seen the written reports of that because the privacy act does not allow them to reveal some things,” Pendleton said.

Betterton said his main concern is to find out whether there are ambulance services that can provide more modern equipment for local patients.

“My vote was not to throw out the current ambulance service,” he said. “I’m looking at where we want to go for the future. Can we do better, or are we doing the best we can now?”

Betterton acknowledged there has been a “lot of political movement” from the hospitals.

The Lauderdale County Commission recently had a similar discussion but has not taken action on reopening ambulance service bids. The contract with Lauderdale EMS expires Sept. 1. The contract has been in effect for four years, but the county is required to rebid it annually after the third year.

Florence and Lauderdale County are tied together in the contract, and there is some concern that a split along political lines could harden relations between the two governing bodies. Both entities owned Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital as part of the county health care authority.

Pendleton said Florence has subsidized ambulance services in the past and could do so again if necessary. He made it clear he wants Keller out of Florence because of its opposition to a new hospital in Florence.

“This is bigger than all of us,” he said. “Not only does the fox guard the henhouse, the fox has the keys to the henhouse.”

Robert Palmer can be reached at 256-740-5720 or robert.palmer@TimesDaily.com.

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https://timesdaily.com/stories/Hospital-wars-invade-city-council-meeting,191862