Please contact your legislators to co-sponsor HB247

[MrMickeysMom]

This is the Certificate of Need (CON) program which Pennsylvania allowed to sunset in 97. The CON process is active in 38 other states. It requires hospitals to actually do a needs assessment before building new hospitals. With certain giant non-profits health care systems out there who shall remain nameless (you know, the ones who come into areas to build their reputation, then move out of areas so they can build hospitals in more affluent areas where they can drive the competition out), it levels the playing field.

I've been waiting for the next opportunity for PA's General Assembly to reinstate the Certificate of Need (CON) process. The bill now resides in the Insurance Committee and is referred to as House Bill 247. As in the past, it's being re-introduced by Rep. Phyllis Mundy, 120th District.

PLEASE contact your reps to gain its' co-sponsorship!

Thanks!

[MrMickeysMom]

1. Am I kicking this.... why YES, I am

... and I'll tell you why.

I'm sick and tired of duplicated services and entire health care systems deciding who can and cannot compete with them, taking away the hospitals where needed, and placing where the market is better.

Bring back sanity by getting this bill through the house, then ping the snot out of your state Senator for this same legislation.

Let's work together on this!

Thank you... MMM

[Pat Riot]

2. Will do

Tried to rec but too late.

Is the Braddock hospital they're closing in your district? It's the first thing that sprang to mind when I read your post.

[MrMickeysMom]

3. What is interesting is...

I live in Monroeville, where UPMC is building the new hospital that wasn't GOING to be a hospital until they acquired the land, had the parcels reverse sub-divided into a single 16 plus acreage parcel. Then, what was going to be a cancer center became a 120 plus bed hospital in the 2nd busiest intersection of the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, for Black History Month, Braddock is being celebrated by being closed down or converted. UPMC is running from all the bad press, but they can't hide.

You might think that I'd be happy to see UPMC's new hospital. No... Furthermore, I understand well what this will do to Forbes Regional Hospital (West Penn Allegheny competitor) less than 3 miles up the road.

A certificate of need would NEVER have allowed this to happen.

Thanks for following up, PR!

[livetohike]

4. Is this what's happening on the old Palace Inn property?

I was in Monroeville this week to take my Mom to a Dr. appt. and drove by there for the first time in months. Wow.

Braddock is very close to my heart.....my Grandparents lived there until their deaths. This is just sickening what's happening.

[MrMickeysMom]

6. Right-o, livetohike...

What's more, the Palace Inn, even with it's non occupancy, was bringing in more taxes than a non profit like UPMC will.

We will, of course, continue to service it with municipal services and put up with the endless traffic and bottle necks as a result of this plan.

[blue neen]

5. That intersection has 22, 48 and the turnpike all in one. It's crazy.

How do they expect emergency vehicles to get in and out of there?

I'm quite happy with Forbes Regional.

[MrMickeysMom]

7. OH... I'm betting that intersection presents them with lots of emergency...

vehicles, that is... great market strategy, too. Bring em right in before they go 3 miles down the road a piece.

They can "catch the big fish upstream" and then decide to heliport the real sick ones to Childrens if they're little, or Presby, if they're big, OR... if they aren't too, too sick, they'll keep em right there within the 120 or so beds.

Brilliant, eh? And, they don't need to pay business privilege taxes. If they think this brings more people to Monroeville to live here, they are kidding because all the displaced workers like the ones they just created in Braddock will probably be willing to drive to Monroeville to work.

[Pat Riot]

8. That's just sick.

Pun intended. Everything you say seems true to me.