Doctors Without Hospitals
Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Committee (PHRF Health committee),
Dear everyone,
Having just endured another LA Healthcare Redesign Collaborative working group (Short-term Priorities), it has become increasingly clear that a step-by-step plan to re-open Charity Hospital and reclaim public healthcare must be publicly presented.
During today's meeting both the private hospitals and parish-run facilities like East and West Jefferson warned that if THEY are not allocated recovery dollars, one of their number may go out of business and severe cutbacks are promised for the remainder. Nearly lost in all this was the closure of Charity Hospital. It was looking like it would be totally unspoken -- until after the fifth time private hospital lobbyist Jack Finn pleaded for funds for the private hospitals, I made my comments and raised up about why Charity remains closed -- which I feel unfortunately are falling on deaf ears.
It is increasingly aware to me that my participation in this "redesign" process is becoming untenable. I still plan to file formal public records requests, potentially as soon as next Thursday, of Don Smithburg and Dr. Fred Cerise, for their respective agency / executive decisions regarding the stopping of efforts to restore Charity Hospital, and the return of nearly $350 million back to FEMA of federal relief in the weeks following Katrina. However, the private hospital forces are in their final push towards claiming federal medicare preference. This in effect could doom the very funding of the entire Charity Hospital system, much less seal for good the current fate of Avery C. Alexander Charity Hospital campus. We need to offer a real alternative.
Our time is unfortunately short. The work of the Redesign Collaborative has a summary report deadline of August 17; with final drafts due in September, with all culminating in a federal Medicare/Medicaid waiver application due by October 20, 2006. The state "Healthcare redesign" process is the public forum that is open to public imput. Other plans are in the works to effect a more postivie outcome -- but participation in creation of real universal healthcare for all is needed to showcased now, and there are too few of us laboring in this task. We need your help.
The ceo's of these private facilities opined that they are barely hanging on and have put forth their "market-based" arguement for "reform". They command centerstage at the moment throughout the Healthcare Redesign Collaborative process, and with little expected opposition due to the make up of the effort, public healthcare advocates are needed. We advocates of Charity Hospitals and single-payer universal healthcare need to be ready to present our own road towards recovery. We have some expected help from Physicians For a National Health Plan. However, we need local Charity patients, former staff, medical professionals and community activists to make a recommitment.
As many of you might already know, we will be commorating the Great Flood Tuesday August 29. We have a standing invitation to have an information table at the rally culminating the march from the Lower Ninth Ward at Congo Square. Volunteers are needed to staff a booth -- and potentially we can showcase our vision and the work since Katrina by the scores of volunteers, free clinics and health professionals who want nobody left out of New Orleans renewal.
Thank you for your efforts and please consider recommitting yourself to the struggle.
-- Brad Ott
(504) 269-4951 or by email at bradott@bellsouth.net
Info on the Great Flood Commemoration:
http://www.peopleshurricane.org
Info about the Louisiana Healthcare Redesign Collaborative:
http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov