MCHD board defends support for clinic

MCHD board defends support for clinic

July 19, 2001

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

The Montezuma County Hospital District board defended its support of a Mancos community health clinic Tuesday after hearing from family practitioners who oppose it.

Dr. Allan Burnside and physician’s assistant Linda Burnside of Dolores Medical expressed concern that a Mancos clinic would unfairly compete with local physicians. They said that other physicians oppose the district’s role in helping to facilitate a clinic in Mancos, but have not been give the chance to give their input.

"The use of federal dollars to compete against me unfairly is a concern for my practice," said Dr. Burnside.

The Burnsides were critical of a federal grant application that will help fund clinic operations, slated to be managed by Valley-Wide Resources. The clinic would provide primary-care services on a sliding scale based on income, accept any insurance policy, and serve the uninsured or underinsured.

Jackie Bloink said that other options should be considered, and that more doctor input about a clinic is needed.

But the board disputed Burnside’s claim that the district was helping to subsidize a clinic with tax dollars. Members responded that they have a legal obligation to serve the health-care needs of Mancos in any way they can because the community is a part of the special taxing district.

"They came to us with a plan, and we are obligated to help with their health-care needs," said board chair Randy Smith. "The support for this is overwhelming."

Board member Susan Keck said that doctors have had the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the board.

Mancos has no health-care service in town, so a community group was formed to push for a clinic in a building historically used for care services.

In support of the clinic, the district has signed a lease-purchase agreement with owners of the building, which is worth $240,000. The option to buy the building has been discussed in a favorable light by the district board, which has considered funding packages in the form of low-interest loans.

But purchasing a facility for the benefit of community health care under a special district is not the same as directly subsidizing health-care operations that compete with private practice as claimed, the board and its attorney said.

"That is an unfair characterization," said board member Rick Beisel. "I do not see it as district competition; rather, we are assisting Mancos to make care available in their community."

Board attorney Kelly McCabe said that there is a distinction between directly funding a clinic, and the district’s proposal to purchase a medical facility.

"We have been very careful not to fund operations with taxes. That is up to Valley-Wide completely," McCabe said. "That perception (that it is competition) is incorrect."

McCabe explained that the board has a statutory obligation to procure heath-care facilities, but how the service is financially operated is not up to them.

In a letter to the board, the Burnsides wrote that Mancos will be left "holding the bag" if Valley-Wide pulls out because of a lack of profits.

District board member Sue McWilliams responded that if Valley-Wide is unsuccessful, then rent payments from a dentist who plans to move into half of the building will cover the district’s building loan payments.

The board also heard:

From CEO Bob Peterson on recruitment efforts. Peterson said that a general surgeon has signed a contract with Southwest Memorial Hospital and will begin practice in Cortez by October. The additional physician will help cover on-call shifts, which have been a problem at Southwest.
From ophthalmologist John Petty on the possibility of obtaining district land for a proposed eye-care practice.