This is a copy of the letter that will be sent to Govenor Carney and each Delaware State Senator. I am disappointed that the Delaware House of Representatives passed #HB350 on Thursday.
Every hospital serving Delaware's citizens is a Not for Profit. Fantastics institutions like Bayhealth , ChristianaCare , Nemours and some multi-state Not for Profit health systems with facilities inside of Delaware like TidalHealth and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.
My family founded Beebe Healthcare in 1916, it is one of the other Not for Profit hospitals in Delaware. I helped my grandfather review board books before meetings and helped my parent's practice with compliance manuals and data systems. I grew up surrounded by the healthcare business before I went into accounting. It's still the most complex business model I've seen, and I understand why people are frustrated with costs. A State appointed board is not the solution to the problem.
I have watched the explosive growth in my home of Sussex County. Every projection I saw for our future healthcare needs dramatically underestimated the County's growth. We still need additional capacity to serve the residents of Sussex and Kent Counties.
Without the generous contributions of time and money from current and new members of the community to their Not for Profit healthcare systems; we would be miles behind where we are today. Many of the facilities where you currently obtain medical services, would not exist. Many of the healthcare providers who serve your needs, would not be in Southern Delaware.
I'm concerned that the State of Delaware underestimates the economic benefit the State derives from the close ties our communities have to their Not for Profit healthcare networks. If the State is in charge, what motivation do citizens have to engage in the governance of the Not for Profit hospitals that serve them?
A well-functioning healthcare system is critical to our tourism industry and our appeal as a retirement destination. Thousands of jobs in Southern Delaware including #Construction, #Hospitality, #Landscaping, #HVAC, #Plumbing, #Electrical, #HomeHealth, #HealthCare, #Retail, #Warehousing, #Logistics, #Attorneys, #REALTORS, #CPAs, and many other professions rely on demand pull from tourism and retirees. Without a good healthcare system, our appeal diminishes.
I do not have confidence that a State appointed board will have the competence to govern healthcare for the State of Delaware without breaking it. There are incredible leaders in Delaware healthcare with a demonstrated history of working with the State. I encourage the State to work with them to control costs rather than dictate to them.
CC:
David Akira Tam MD MBA FACHE CPHE
Terry Murphy