St. Francis leaders, clinicians talk health care with Senate candidate

INDIANAPOLIS – While passage of the national health care bill last March signaled sweeping changes, some questions about the $938 billion legislation have yet to yield clear answers, particularly the far-reaching effects on hospital operations.

St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis was the setting today (Aug. 3) for hospital leaders and clinicians to voice their concerns and ask questions of Dan Coats, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

Coats said he wanted to make it clear about his visit to St. Francis: “I’m not here to give a speech,” he said. “I’m here to listen to what you have to say and think because you know the issues first-hand.”

St. Francis, which has hospitals in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville, is part of 13-hospital network owned and operated by the Mishawaka-based Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. It is the second largest hospital system in Indiana and, as part of its mission, serves a large population of the poor and uninsured.

Bob Brody greets the candidate before the discussions get under way.

“Certainly, changes in accessibility and affordability in health care have been needed and are long overdue,” said St. Francis CEO Robert Brody. “But there are aspects of this recently passed national bill that may strain hospitals’ abilities to provide timely, care for more and more patients. We are expected to do much more with diminished resources.”

Coats said he is committed to introduce an amendment to the current health bill, assuring providers and payers of "conscience clause" relief from providing or contributing to services that are considered morally and ethically untenable, such as abortion. He also expressed concern over the issue of large insurance companies and the power they yield and their influence, versus their ability to spread risk across large populations.

A one-size-fits-all national system cannot work, Coats said.

“The idea that Washington has come up with is just not achievable,” said Coats, who is running against Democrat U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth for the seat now occupied by Evan Bayh. “It [health care bill] has become and remains a political polarizing issue – we need a bipartisan effort to truly make it work.”“The said irony is that more patients are wanting more time to spend with their doctors,” said Walthall, an otolaryngologist who has a long affiliation with the hospital.

Coats, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1988 to 1998, has outlined his vision in what he has dubbed the “Hoosier Health Care Plan.” Generally, the plan calls for allowing health-care providers to cross state lines, thus providing more competition; tort reform and the capping of liability rewards; encouraging innovation for state health plans; and expanding health savings accounts for individuals and families.

But Coats’ plan has one omission consistent with the existing legislation, according to Richard Feldman, M.D., director of St. Francis medical education and the Family Medicine Residency Program.

“There is no provision for universal health care and I find that curious,” commented Feldman, who served as Indiana’s State Health Commissioner from 1997 to 2001.

The 90-minute meeting touched on issues ranging from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to specialized clinical care such as pediatrics and emergency medicine.