FAIRSHAREPA

[Divernan]

4. Interesting talk w/Pitt public health professor re UPMC

I'm a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistant) in a program sponsored by United Way/local food banks - we prepare returns mainly for the elderly and poor working individuals & families. I just reported to my assigned location for work yesterday for the first time. Another volunteer there is a Univ. of Pittsburgh professor of public health. We had a break toward the end of the day and I brought up this whole Senate Bill 4 issue. As to UPMC, he mentioned the new uber luxury facility/hospital in Monroeville, PA, called UPMC East. I said I'd read descriptions of the place: all rooms are private rooms, each equipped with flat screen television; that patients' menus include goodies like pizza cooked in a wood fired oven; etc. He said that several of his students had done internships there and reported it was as luxurious as a 5 star hotel/country club.

He agreed with my assessment that if this bill passed, allowing legislators to set the standards for what constitutes purely public charities, that Romoff could dictate specific regulations such that UPMC paid NO taxes.