Locals keep close eye on health care debate

With health care reform bills passing both houses of Congress, major reforms are imminent. The two bills have to be merged to iron out the differences, including the contentious public option, leaving area health care professionals unsure how reform will affect health care in the area.

With vitriol and hyperbole spewing from both sides of the debate, it’s become difficult to get an accurate view of what the revamped health care system will mean for health care in the Tri-parish area. Given that the legislation has run into the thousands of pages and will be phased in over the next five years, experts felt that the legislation wouldn’t shock the system. The long-term picture, however, remains murky.

“At this point I’d be loath to predict gloom or doom or cheer from the rafters. It is much to soon in my opinion to venture a prediction,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon.

Although particulars of the issues are debated, most agree that some sort of health care reform is needed, and area experts were no different.

“It is certainly needed in my judgment. With 800,000 uninsured people in Louisiana, that cries out for reform,” said Donelon. “Having said that, a chunk of that population chooses to be uninsured by virtue of the fact that they make the decision to spend their money on other things and roll the dice on their health insurance needs.”

Among area hospitals, the most immediate concerns were funding issues.

“Thibodaux Regional Medical Center believes that health care reform needs to happen; however, there is a need for meaningful and extended discussions regarding its impact,” said Toni Martinez, a spokeswoman for Thibodaux Regional in an e-mail to the Tri-Parish Times. Martinez listed the hospital’s most immediate concerns as feared cuts in Medicare reimbursement, the fragile state of Louisiana’s Medicaid funding and retaining quality physicians in specialized fields.

Despite the vagaries of the situation, both Thibodaux Regional and Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma seemed confident that health care reform won’t significantly change their ability to heal patients.

“From my perspective as hospital administrator, I do not foresee drastic changes in the way we do business. Our hospital’s mission is to serve all who enter our doors, and that will not change,” said Rhonda Green, CEO of Chabert Medical Center.

Martinez mirrored the sentiment, saying, “Despite our concerns, Thibodaux Regional Medical Center continues to focus on providing compassionate and excellent clinical care,” said Martinez.

“Thibodaux Regional has created an organization that is resilient and can adapt to change quickly, while remaining committed to our values. This has been and remains a key to our success.”

Although some have raised concerns that hospitals may face a rough transition, area hospitals felt seemed to feel equipped to handle the changes.

“Regarding a transition period, that is yet to be determined. Reimbursement and fiscal matters may need adjustment to meet the changes. That remains to be seen. Our primary goal remains on patient outcomes, with no foreseen challenges to change our mission,” said Green.

Meanwhile In the Senate…

With the legislation still taking its final shape in Congress, state Sen. David Vitter is attempting to put up roadblocks in the path of the legislation. Under normal procedure, members of both houses are sent into a committee to negotiate the differences between the two bills.

With the public option in the House version of the bill, but missing in the Senate’s bill, some believe Democrats will use their majority to get the controversial measure into the final bill in the conferencing process. To avoid that, Vitter is attempting to block the nomination of the members of the Senate sent to conference.

“If this bill goes to legislative conference, the people will be completely removed from the process. Much like with the stimulus, a legislative conference will rewrite this bill behind closed doors amongst only a handful of members of Congress,” said Vitter

Although the move is not likely to stop final passage of the bill, it could create further political hurdles to the process.

“I’ve been pretty upfront about how bad a deal I believe this legislation will be for Louisianians – seniors, small businesses, taxpayers and our state budget,” said Vitter.