THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230289
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY PRUDENCIO MENDEZ JR., M.D.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
On Sept. 13, Dr. Louis N. Carideo presented a letter to the City Council voicing his opposition to the ongoing takeover attempt by hospitals and insurance companies. His comments were supported by approximately 70 signatures he had collected from the Chesapeake General Hospital medical staff.
In no way did Dr. Carideo attempt to coerce the council or the citizenry. He simply informed them about the situation Chesapeake General Hospital is facing.
Mayor William E. Ward made the assumption that there is a ``faction'' attempting to ``politicize'' this issue. I am forced to step forward and assure him that this is not the case. The situation is not as simple as it looks.
Large insurance power houses are taking over hospitals and medical practitioners all over the nation. Concerned Chesapeake practitioners and a few citizens are determined to delay any merger attempts that may affect Chesapeake General Hospital.
We believe that Chesapeake General Hospital is in a strong financial position to ally independently to other groups and still enjoy its independence.
It would be wrong for the City of Chesapeake to award a health insurance plan to city employees where there is a sole provider without alternatives. The government officials are being captivated by what they see as a ``well intended'' offer, but the officials are not seeing the whole picture. There is little doubt in my mind that this is a well orchestrated takeover plan by a major insurance company. We will eventually see their effort being deleterious to our community.
Let me suggest a thought. Imagine having an individual with no knowledge of automobile mechanics trying to tell a professional mechanic how to fix an automobile. It is irrational, isn't it? By the same token, think about anyone without the adequate knowledge try to make or block decisions concerning Chesapeake General Hospital.
I believe the council must keep politics away from this business until this issue is adequately resolved. We concerned physicians and citizens are trying to avoid the potential damage the insurance companies' monopolistic behavior in Chesapeake could bring. It may not manifest in the next year or two, but it will gravely impact all citizens thereafter and then we may not be able to move away from it.
Having one strong insurance player in this area would mean total control of pricing and medical care delivery in complete disregard to good business and medicine. Many specialized physicians could potentially be left without jobs because of the control of ``bought-out'' primary care providers funneling patients to their institutions. Physicians with sense will be forced to leave the area for better alternatives.
But if we allow competition, everyone benefits. It's a win-win situation!
I have been given no alternative but to fight a good fight as long as I can hold up! And I'm not alone.
One way to prevent a merger with the wrong group is by making the necessary internal changes to the Chesapeake General Hospital Authority. We believe that if council members reappoint certain authority members, they are, in effect, agreeing to a possible merger. This could be potentially embarrassing to the council and would affect negatively the citizens and physicians of Chesapeake.
The council should be more open to discuss this issue with all parties rather than letting decisions be made by a single group. There are many questions to raise to the authority that we have not been able to ask. Why should that be the case?
I strongly support the concerns of Dr. Carideo and the other 70 physicians. The facts are there, and they are very disturbing. by CNB