Losses increase hospital bills
By Marian Green
Of ttf Emmrmkt
Lane County residents are paying as much
as 25-percent higher medical bills than they
would if federal subsidies completely covered
the costs of medical welfare programs,
according to area hospital officials
Medicare, Medicaid and bad debt patients
comprise 40 percent of the patient population
at Sacred Heart General Hospital, but the
federal government fails to reimburse the
hospital for the total treatment costs of those
patients, says hospital spokesman Tom
Lawry
"Consequently, the hospital takes a loss on
each of those patients," he says.
Lawry estimates those losses will add up to
nearly $12 million by the year's end Last year,
the hospital took a $7 million loss in services
to patients under the federal programs, he
says
The hospital passes those losses on to
paying customers in the form of higher
medical costs, Lawry says
"If we could do away with the bad debt and
receive full reimbursement from the
government we could reduce (medical bills)
about 20 cents on the dollar, he says
Lawry says the federal government will
cover only what it determines are patient
treatment costs, but the government and
hospitals differ on the extent of that coverage
Of the patient dollar, 53 cents covers
employee wages and benefits, 23 cents
makes up the difference in federal
reimbursement and actual costs of subsidized
programs, and the balance offsets operating
costs, he says
Recently, Sacred Heart raised its rates 12.5
percent, and 8 percent of that increase is a
direct result' of the rising number of
Medicare and Medicaid patients, Lawry says
"It s a real moral dilemma," he says
"Our mission is to treat people with real
need, regardless of ability to pay, but we also
have a responsibility to the paying customer
to provide quality medical care at a
competitive price."
In Springfield, McKenzie-Willamette
Hospital also is experiencing the same kind of
dilemma.
Medicare and welfare patients comprise 40
percent of that hospital’s patient load, and
much of McKenzie-Willamette’s 9-percent
rate increase this January went to offset those
patients’ costs, says Bill Johnston, the
hospital's finance director.
He says the federal government picks up
about 80 percent of those patient costs. The
hospital — and ultimately the patient not
covered by a federally subsidized program —
pays the remaining tab, Johnston says.
"It’s basically a hidden tax, pure and
simple."
Johnston estimates the consumer would
pay an average $100 less, and medical bills
would be reduced from 20 to 25 percent, if the
government were paying the total cost of the
subsidized programs
"It's getting to the point where it's pretty
astronomical," he says.
While the dwindling reimbursements also
present problems for the Eugene Hospital and
Clinic, the smaller scale of that hospital
enables a better reimbursement rate, says
hospital comptroller Bob Hubbard.
"We have a pretty good rate. ' he says.
About 43 percent of the hospital's
population are funded by Medicare and
another 6 percent are served by Medicaid, he
says. Only 10 percent of the hospital s
Medicare and Medicaid patient costs are not
reimbursed, Hubbard says
"That amounts to about 5 percent in losses
that must be picked up by the privately paying
patients," he says "And that’s not fair ."
Rates increased to 14 percent this month at
Eugene Hospital and Clinic, but he attributes
only 1 percent of the increase to the
reimbursement problem.
"Our main problem is the higher prices of
equipment," Hubbard says.
Nevertheless, he says he's worried that the
federal government will erode the
reimbursements further.
"Every year, they’re a little bit less and
less ”
BEATLES TRIBUTE
with special guest artist
RICHARD PRICE
[ Friday at 4 Pitcher Sale
STUDENT HEALTH
CENTER HOURS:
By Appointment.
Mon-Fri ... 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
No Appointment Necessary.
Sat 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a m.
Urgent Care.
Sat-Sun .. 12 Noon-8:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri .. 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
686-4441
/
otmhiih
OAK HILL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
presents
Westminster
Forum
April 16-18
Prof. Dennis Johnson
Assist. Professor of New Testament at Westminster
Ideological Seminary
FRIDAY, 7:30 pm -“JESUS AND THE OLD
TESTAMENT: or, Everything you wanted to
know about understanding your bible, but didn’t
have an Apostle to ask.”
SATURDAY, noon —“Why go to seminary?
Why Westminster?” (By reservation only, please
call 686-0853.)
6:30 pm —“Asking questions in Bible Study.”
SUNDAY, 11:00 am —“Forgiveness and Love”
6:00 pm —“Coronation Gifts”
LOCATIONS: All meetings except Saturday
noon are at Oak Hill Pres. Church, 33rd and S.
Willamette. Saturday luncheon is at North’s
Chuck Wagon.
ONE AND ALL ARE WELCOME.
S---f
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE, INC.
April 16, 1982
University of Oregon Students, Faculty, and Classified Staff
From: Jim Williams
General Manager of UO Bookstore
Re: Bookstore Annual Meeting for the membership
Salutations!
As members of the Bookstore, you are invited to the Bookstore’s
annual meeting. Inventory’s been taken and it’s time we reported to
you on the current operations and success level. At the annual
meeting the officers of the Bookstore will give the annual report
and will be seeking your comments and suggestions.
The Bookstore prides itself on being responsive and guided by the
University members. Six positions on the Board of Directors are
open for nominations:
Two sophomore positions for two year terms
One student at large position for a two year term
One graduate position for a two year term
One faculty position for a two year term
One classified staff position for a two year term
Nominations for the Board will be asked for at the meeting.
Nine cash certificates, totaling S 100.00 will be given away, and
donuts and soft drinks will be served.
Please come to the Bookstore’s annual meeting, April 22, 1982, at
3:30 pm, Room 341, Gilbert Hall.
Hope to see you there,