IS IT TRUE JUNE 3, 2016

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IS IT TRUE we are very surprised to find out that Deaconess Hospital admits to filing 20,000 collections proceedings in the past five years? …that they now say that their procedure for debt collection is changing?… the change came about because of investigative reporting by NPR and Pro Publica concerning seizing wages of low income patients rather than having them seek government assistance to pay? … the main focus of the investigative newspaper article was St. Joseph’s Hospital in Missouri, but we were taken aback that Evansville Deaconess was cited by name in the articles?…that Deaconess admits to having filed more suits than St Joseph’s?

IS IT TRUE  the City County Observer recently reported that it’s been alleged that the CEO’S of both Deaconess and St Mary’s Hospitals are earning well over $1.6  million dollars per year (not including benefits)?  …in the attached article a  reference was made  in 2015 that Deaconess Hospital CEO, Linda White was paid $1.74 million dollars.

IS IT TRUE we wonder who are member of the St. Mary’s and the Deaconess Hospitals Board of Directors who set the guidelines to how the CEO”S should run the financial activities of both not-for profit?

IS IT TRUE we encourage you to click the attached link to read that Deaconess Hospital admitted to filing 20,000 collections proceedings in the past five years?  …we also know you’ll find comments by a St. Mary’s spokes person in this article interesting?   …we believe once you read the attached (link) article you will  most likely ask the question how the working poor of this community can pay medical collection proceedings and also pay for food, housing, children schooling, house insurance and auto expensive and etc.?

IS IT TRUE this is a developing story because we would like to know why it seems like our local not-for-profits hospitals have lost their sight on the “christian mission” to help the poor?

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/nonprofit_hospital_stops_suing_poor_patients_will_others_follow_201160602

FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE” will be posted on this coming Monday?

Todays READERS POLL question is:   Do you feel that our local not-for-profits hospitals have lost their sight on the “christian mission” to help the poor?

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28 COMMENTS

  1. Are these compensations inline with other similar institutions and their mission? What about compensation for other executives? What is the percentage of their compensation to the gross revenue? How much would lower compensation lower medical cost?

    Deaconess worked with me on what I owed them after my Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, but it took me not accepting the first answer and showing them what I wanted and what I was reasonably able to pay.

    • You were fortunate to be in a position to bargain with them. Often, the people they bully are people who don’t understand that they have any alternatives. Of course, garnishment of your wages was not an option in your case.

      If anybody thinks the collections procedure would have changed if the non-profit hadn’t been caught with its pants down and called out by name, I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might want to buy.

      • I do have some advantage in how I am compensated and that I am more familiar with dealing with people at a professional level.
        And I in no way intended my comments to imply that I support these non profits aggressive collections policies.
        Although I prefer St Mary’s and likely continue to terrorize these forums due to the professional treatment I received, I also often say that the Sisters of the Poor are helping to create the poor they serve.

        • The bottom line in all of this is that in five years’ time, Deaconess has harassed and bullied about 10% of the local population, many of whom have poverty level incomes. That doesn’t paint a pretty picture of an entity that is founded to help the needy, not add to their misery.
          It wasn’t long ago that it was recounted here about a CCO staffer being harassed by them about a $17 bill he had already paid. I wonder how many chronically or terminally ill people get treated like that.

          • I agree with your bottom line. Most people are not as obstinate as I am or as you.

            Let’s try to avoid any further agreement. It hurt’s Ron’s clicks.

          • And to think of all the bullying Alex Schmitt received for having collections from surgeries because of a chronic disease. Just goes to show we don’t know Jack until we stand in his shoes.

          • Alex, you can stand down now. You’ve been publicly made as a deadbeat and a loser. It is not our fault. It is not the fault of Deaconess Hospital or any other provider. It’s you Alex, it’s you, it’s always you.

  2. More fodder for the Single Payer crowd, which is what this is all about.

    ProPublica Funding:

    [Wikipedia]

    While the Sandler Foundation provided ProPublica with significant financial support, it has also received funding from the Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation and the Atlantic Philanthropies.[13] ProPublica and the Knight Foundation have various connections. For example, Paul Steiger, President of ProPublica, is a trustee of the Knight Foundation.[14] In like manner, Alberto Ibarguen, the President and CEO of the Knight Foundation is on the board of ProPublica.[15] In 2010, it received a two-year contribution of $125,000 each year from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.[16]

    ProPublica has attracted attention for the salaries it pays its employees.[17][18] In 2008, Paul Steiger, the editor of ProPublica, received a salary of $570,000.[19] Steiger was formerly the managing editor at the Wall Street Journal, where his total compensation (including options[19]) was double that at ProPublica.[20] Steiger’s stated strategy is to use a Wall Street Journal pay model to attract journalistic talent.[21] In 2010, eight ProPublica employees made more than $160,000, including managing editor Stephen Engelberg ($343,463) and the highest-paid reporter, Dafna Linzer, formerly of the Washington Post ($205,445).[22]

    Engelberg is a former New York Times editor who co-wrote the non-fiction book Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War, with Times reporter Judith Miller.

    • It looks like nearly every apartment property in the county is for sale. The fact that they were removed from the market should tell you something about the quality of the investments.

      • One by one they will be sold to various political subdivisions, or their not-for-profit partners, using public money to make the purchase at above market valuations. The sold list will start with the more politically connected, then work its way down the list.

  5. The old haunted Greek-Shears Mortuary is ripe for a good bundling with the CVS Pharmacy on N. Main for a quick Yellow Sale.

  6. Josh Claybourn found himself a camera. He was on national TV this afternoon distancing himself from his buddy Trumpf, knocking his character and generally dissing him. He’s ‘incredibly concerned’ about Trumpf turning off generations of voters, etc. He should be incredibly concerned that folks might see him as a fair weather friend and not worthy of having around.

    He couldn’t wait to be in the thumbs up picture when Rump rolled through here. It remains unclear where Drumpf’s other thumb was when the picture was taken.
    http://s26.postimg.org/l4pt7emm1/Josh_Trump.jpg

    • Those are two of the phoniest smiles I’ve ever seen, but Trumpunk’s is really world class.

    • I saw a feed on my FB this morning, and I believe everything on FB, that the plan is for enough delegates to abstain from voting to cheat Trump of the necessary votes in the first round, then they will nominate who they want. I swore and copied Josh on my oath that if they choose such an action that I would vote for Hillary or sanders then go hide in a hole while they reap the consequence of such an action.

    • Glad to see that the Bernie/Hillary supporters were out in force protecting free speech and encouraging an open dialog about the current state of the nation and the upcoming Federal elections.

      The “Mayor” of San Jose appears to need a recall. They did that to a Governor of California once.

      http://m.14news.com/14news/db/345625/content/McoAGmak

    • So Claybourn does smiley face with the Trumpster and then disses him. What’s with that?

  7. Debtor’s prison. I had a patient tell me they went to jail overnight because of contempt charges from a debt that Deaconess was trying to collect. Perhaps we can get back on track and a way from the political bull crap and discuss the failing health care system in this country.

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