11 September 2013
Cost Cutting Move Could Cost Peace Harbor
A federal budget-cutting proposal threatens to reduce Medicare payments to 15 rural Oregon hospitals, including Peace Harbor. Hospital and state officials say it could threaten their futures. According to a report compiled by the East Oregonian in Pendleton, the proposal involves what are considered “critical access hospitals” that get higher payments under a program started in 1997 amid a wave of hospital closures in rural America.
Oregon has 25 of the 850 critical access hospitals nationally. Fifteen of those are within 15 to 35 miles of another hospital, which is why their payments are threatened. Peace Harbor is within 35 miles of Lower Umpqua in Reedsport.
Now, a recommendation from the inspector general’s office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would end that exception.
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor CEO Rick Yecny said he felt it was unlikely the proposal would actually be implemented. But, he added, they are keeping an eye on it.
Responsibility Taken for Coos Blasts
Letters received by the Coos Bay World and the City of Coos Bay yesterday are claiming responsibility for destructive devices that damaged a controversial war memorial and heavily damaged a downtown prayer chapel in that city.
Coos Bay Police Chief Gary McCulloch says a group calling themselves “Veterans United for Non-religious Memorials” are taking credit for the explosive devices and are threatening further action if the “issue of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is not resolved quickly”.
Another group had challenged the City of Coos Bay to remove the memorial because of their contention that it constitutes a government endorsement of a particular religion.
Coos Bay Mayor Chrystal Shojii released a statement calling the situation an “emotional” one and calling on all sides to remain responsible and peaceful.
The Coos Bay City Council has held several private conversations with their legal counsel as to how to handle the memorial, but has not made any public announcements as of yet.
Back-2-School Triathlon
Kids between the ages of five and 17 are eligible to compete Saturday in the first-ever Boys and Girls Club Back-2-School Kids Triathlon.
The event starts at Coastal Fitness at 8:15 with a swim in the pool… then a bike ride on Oak, 27th and Kingwood streets that winds up at Hans Peterson Field with a run on the track.
Registration is $15 per child, with additional family members eligible to sign up for $10 each.
Our Town
KCST’s Our Town this afternoon will take a quick look at the Affordable Care Act implementation that is scheduled to begin October 1st. Other segments of the program this afternoon from four to six pm include conversations with Heceta Water District Chair Bob Hursh about a proposal to spray herbicide in the Clear Lake Watershed; Judy Fleagle and the Florence Festival of Books; and lawmakers Arnie Roblan and Caddy McKeown.
