Health care repeal would benefit Moses Lake Clinic

Doctor-run hospitals like the Moses Lake Clinic would see changes if President Obama's health law was repealed.

by Shantra Hannibal<br> Herald Staff Writer
| January 22, 2011 5:00 AM

MOSES LAKE - Area clinics and hospitals have begun considering the potential results of Congress passing a bill to repeal President Obama's health care law.

Congressman Doc Hastings said that his vote to repeal the law was aimed at the provisions blocking construction of doctor-owned hospitals and severely restricting the ability of existing doctor-owned hospitals, like the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, to add beds or expand services.

The Wenatchee Valley Medical Center also has facilities in Moses Lake, Royal City, Omak, Tonasket, Cashmere, East Wenatchee and Oroville that abide by the same rules. The center is connected to the Moses Lake Clinic.

"These restrictions are just another way the federal government is taking control of our heath care by limiting choices, rationing care and dictating where, when and how Americans get their health care under the new law," says Hastings. "Anyone familiar with the medical center's work in North Central Washington should understand why a repeal of these provisions is warranted."

At the Moses Lake Clinic, the law prohibits the facility from expanding even if the local population increases.

"The idea is that physician-owned hospitals can't get any bigger than they are right now," says Moses Lake Clinic Administrator David Olson. "Our concern is that what if North Central Washington continues to grow, what if there are services that are not provided and people have to go to Seattle or Spokane? Wouldn't it be nice if we were allowed to provide more services like an operating room or something like that."

The Moses Lake Clinic has six beds for patients with issues that only require rehabilitation, such as stroke. The other 14 beds are for medicine and surgery. The facility is not allowed to increase the number of beds in the facility or create bays for ambulances.

Administrators from Samaritan Healthcare say their facilities will be affected as well.

"Right now we know that within Washington there are significantly fewer people who can pay for their health care," says Samaritan Hospital Administrator Andrew Bair. "The one thing we don't know is, even if it went through, what laws would be put in place to replace the existing law? At some point were going to have to hold down cost and expand care and whatever that law is it will effect us. Either way this goes, we're affected."

Columbia Basin Hospital Administrator Bob Reeder says a repeal would require new legislation to help the people who have trouble paying for health care.

"We do give out a considerable amount of uncompensated care because people can't pay their medical bills," Reeder says. "The repeal would result in the legislature needing to find a way to help pay for those patients. Being a public owned hospital, we give out close to $1 million in uncompensated care. But from a realistic stance, if it passed in the house, it still has to pass the senate and President Obama could still veto it."

The bill passed Wednesday by a vote of 245 for the repeal and 189 voting against.