Profitability of Denver hospitals
Re: “Denver’s hospitals profitable, powerful,” Nov. 4 news story.
The Post’s article sheds important light on a harsh reality facing our community: Denver’s consolidated hospital systems are driving up the cost of care for the working families, employers and communities that pay for it.
Whether they are for-profit, not- for-profit, or a hybrid of the two (as in HCA-HealthOne’s case), these hospital systems have earned a national reputation for posting some of the nation’s highest profits at the consumer’s expense.
Regrettably, there are limits on the public’s ability to “capture the entire financial picture” of our health care market. With this in mind, Colorado for Health Care – a project of SEIU, the nation’s largest health care union – released a report in September titled “Sky High Health Care Costs in the Mile High City.”
Only 10 years ago, Denver had 20 independent or small-system general acute-care hospitals systems. Today, three consolidated systems – HCA-HealthOne, Centura and Exempla – dominate the market, owning more than 75 percent of the beds in the market. With the national average for hospital profits currently at 4 percent, these three systems actually boast a collective average profit of 18 percent.
Our report, which is available at www.imahealthcarevoter.org/co, reveals the consequences of hospital consolidation: higher prices, jettisoned community services, a $2.25 billion building boom and a painful financial burden on the taxpayer.
A change in this costly status quo cannot occur without an informed understanding of the forces at work behind closed doors. Colorado’s consumers, employers and elected officials have a right to transparency and accountability from the organizations that play such a dramatic role in the market.
Mitch Ackerman, President, SEIU Local 105, Denver
Federal funding for stem-cell research
Re: “Make stem cells a priority,” Nov. 7 editorial.
The Post’s editorial made good arguments for why our government should loosen restrictions on federal funding for stem-cell research. Every reader should contact Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar and urge them to demand that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist schedule action on this bill, already passed by the U.S. House.
History will condemn the opposition of the fanatical minority that prefers seeing excess embryos destroyed rather than let them be used to cure agonizing diseases. Their inflexibility on this issue is reminiscent of the resistance once expressed toward anesthesia. Some thought that using it would thwart God’s will, since God obviously had a purpose in creating pain.
Opponents of stem-cell research evidently believe the same – that pain must be endured as a punishment from God. Yet how many of them now use anesthesia when offered? Such hypocrisy is only exceeded by the irony that this opposition calls itself “pro-life” while opposing potentially life-saving research.
Janet Brazill, Colorado Springs
Minimum wage and congressional raises
Re: “Just what is a fair minimum wage?” Nov. 1 Ed Quillen column.
I notice that every year, Congress votes down any increase in minimum wage, saying a raise would hurt the economy. But then they vote themselves a hefty increase that would take a minimum wage earner four months of 40- our weeks to earn, and they seem to have no concern at all about the impact that might have on the economy.
Meanwhile, the companies they are protecting from having to pay their employees more seem to have no trouble at all in raising their prices for their products. And they, too, seem to have no worries about the effect on economies, and certainly none whatsoever about how their poor workers must struggle to survive.
But I guess it is all about how you look at it. Poor isn’t poor unless it affects your pocketbook. Otherwise it is just a throw of the economic dice, and some win and some lose.
Marjorie Johnson, Eckert
Death of snowboarder
Re: “Denver man becomes first fatality of Colorado snow season,” Nov. 7 news story.
I am disappointed with the way The Denver Post handled this incredible man’s death. The angle of the story was so rude. The Post treated this man like just another statistic. This is a human life we’re talking about, not just another number. The article talked more about this avalanche than the man. Since when is an avalanche more important than a life? The article not only degraded him, but made it seem like his death was his own fault. I was deeply disappointed with the coverage of this article and thought that it lacked any human connection.
Allison Daley, Broomfield
Respect and the U.S. flag
I was distressed to see a picture in the Sunday paper of Air Force Academy cadets rushing to keep a football field-size American flag from touching the ground.
Carrying the flag horizontally – as was done at the academy football game and also by the Boy Scouts at the University of Colorado vs. Missouri game on Saturday – is against the Flag Code of the United States, which says, “The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.” It is shown in the manual published by the Scouts as improper. The only time a flag is to be horizontal is on a casket or when being properly folded.
Many have used the excuse that it is being done in honor of our military and veterans, but even veteran groups with which I am familiar oppose this improper display. Since the only time the flag is to be carried or held horizontally is on a casket, doing as was done at the football games, in my opinion, actually dishonors those military who have had the flag on their casket.
Tom Millensifer, Littleton
Democracy and Referendum D
I opposed Referendum D for the same reason many did – concern about the state going into too much debt. I was convinced by Joan Fitz-Gerald, Democratic president of the Colorado Senate. She and Republican Norma Anderson, former majority leader of the Colorado House and Senate, led a wonderful discussion about Referendums C and D in October, and an audience member asked about this issue. Sen. Fitz-Gerald demurred, saying without fanfare that she did not favor Referendum D. Then Rep. Anderson enthusiastically supported it. She made good points, saying that it would in the long run be cheaper to make the investment now than later. I learned four things from this:
1. These are two wonderful elected representatives. I hate term limits for depriving the state of their wisdom and experience, even while I rejoice in the opportunity for new voices.
2. The stereotypes of Democrats and Republicans are just that – stereotypes. Few people are so narrow.
3. Couldn’t things be organized so that the millions spent on political advertising yielded some civil discussion like this? Even 10 seconds for fact rebuttal at the end of each advertisement would be so useful.
4. Our democracy is as good as its participants.
Mary Hill, Boulder
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