Medicaid, Medicare, and Our Ailing Healthcare System
On January 13, 2024, there was a Town Hall originating from Corvallis, Oregon on “Medicaid, Medicare, and Our Ailing Healthcare System. How this Affects Our Hospitals, Patients, and Providers.”
Please view the video of the town hall here.
The town hall was prompted by the inadequacies of our healthcare system in general and with several significant disruptions in access to care through Medicare and Medicaid during 2023.
1. Doug Boysen, CEO of Samaritan Health Services (SHS) in Benton, Linn, and Lincoln counties of Oregon explained:
The reasons SHS ended its contract with United Health Group Medicare Advantage plans in November 2023
The financial struggles of many hospitals including SHS hospitals because of the high cost of care and inadequate reimbursements
Fatigue of staff and workforce shortages related to the Covid pandemic
His disappointment with the proposed contract for the merger of the Corvallis Clinic with United Health Group/Optum MSO.
The value of global budgets for hospitals and regions.
2. Angel Harris RN, Nurse Educator and former President of Linn Benton NAACP explained:
The experience of people of color in our healthcare system
The failures of our healthcare system
o In general
o For healthcare providers
o For patients
The concept of healthcare as a human right
The role of universal health care in righting the wrongs in our healthcare system.
3. Bruce Thomson MD, retired Family Practice Physician and former Medical Director of the Benton County Health Department explained:
The failures of our healthcare system
o In general
o For healthcare providers
o For patients
The role of universal health care in righting the wrongs in our healthcare system.
The town hall was sponsored by Mid Valley Health Care Advocates, Health Care For All Oregon, Corvallis League Of Women Voters, and Linn-Benton-Lincoln Health Equity Alliance. Karen Christianson, a retired attorney, and Co-Chair of the MVHCA Lgislative Committee, moderated the town hall.
Technical Issues
Our apologies to those who were not able to access the Zoom. We had upgraded and paid for our account to allow up to 500 attendees. With 393 people registered, we were looking forward to a great turnout. Unfortunately, we did not know that Zoom had not expanded our capacity beyond 100 until the Town Hall had begun. We were quite frustrated as were many who tried to log on.
If you were fortunate enough to attend and did not fill out the survey you can access the brief evaluation form. Your feedback will help us continue to improve as we look to more Town Halls soon.
Soon, we’ll send you ideas for your study and action toward achieving a just and equitable healthcare system that serves everyone’s needs.
Thank You,
Fritz Stephens-Tiley, CHFP
Co-chair MVHC Outreach Committee
Mike Huntington
MVHCA vice-chair
541-829-1182
