A story in the Palladium-Item ties in with Mitch Roob’s Testimony to the Health Finance Commission. The story is about Roob’s plan to try to privatize the operation of the Richmond State Hospital. The line in the story that reminded me of Roob’s prior testimony was: “This is a governance issue,” Roob said. “(FSSA is) better at funding care than at providing care,” Roob said.” — which is similar to his statement in July, “”Secretary Roob stated that FSSA is going to alter the manner in which health care is delivered in the state. FSSA will be a health care financing agency.”
I don’t know if there is serious philosophy and economics behind this concept or if it’s just a pat statement that Mr. Roob likes. But, it seems to me that some real thought and debate should be given to what we gain and what we lose if FSSA is converted to a “health care financing agency.”
A good quote by Reid Hospital President Barry MacDowell with respect to the Richmond State Hospital facility specifically in the Palladium-Item story:
Reid Hospital President Barry MacDowell has an insight into operating a not-for-profit hospital in the public good.
“If the result of this plan is to truly improve the core services for the mentally ill, Reid will be enthusiastic,” MacDowell said.
“But if this is a façade to sugar coat a reduction to an area that’s already significantly under funded, it would be a travesty. Reductions in service to the mentally ill are historically a false economy. They shift the costs to other places, such as law enforcement or social welfare.”
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