Hastings visits health care centers

COLUMBIA BASIN - Congressman Doc Hastings, R-4th District, visited several hospitals in the Columbia Basin Friday to discuss health care.

Hastings visited Quincy Valley Medical Center, Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, Moses Lake Clinic, and Othello Community Hospital.

At the Moses Lake Clinic, Hastings toured the facility, learning about equipment and visiting rooms. State Representative Judy Warnick, R-13th District, joined Hastings for the tour.

After the tour, Hastings discussed health care issues with clinic staff.

Hastings said the threat to Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and its clinics is still real. He referred to a mental-health bill, which included language prohibiting doctor-owned facilities from receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments.

"I feel very strongly about the principal of being reimbursed for services rendered," Hastings said.

The language is expected to come up again in a bill to cut Medicare reimbursement by 10 percent, he said.

Press Secretary Will Marlow said after the meeting, the language is also expected to come up as the House and Senate discuss the different versions of their passed mental-health bills in a committee.

The House version includes the language prohibiting physician-owned facilities from receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments, while the Senate version does not, Marlow said.

Hastings noted the Bush administration took the position of opposing the prohibition.

"That's very, very helpful," Hastings said. "Very helpful."

Hastings said he is looking forward to the debate coming this presidential year about health care.

"We need this debate," he said.

He said there hasn't been a presidential debate about health care in 10 years.

Curnel said a bigger issue coming up is the shortage of physicians. He noted physicians are aging, and there has not been an increase in the number of people attending medical school, while the number of people going to hospitals is growing.

"In other words, where are the doctors going to come from to meet the needs of the population?" Curnel asked.

Radiologist Stuart O'Byrne said when he retires, there is no one to replace him.

O'Byrne expressed concern with the idea of penalizing hospitals for doing their work. He noted the clinic provides a lot of free care to patients.

Moses Lake Clinic Administrator David Olson told Hastings the clinic is leading the state with a new method to profile patients. Their medical issues, past medical history, family history and other details are contained on one or two pages.

"They're actually thinking of using this as a statewide type program," Olson noted.