As an independent family physician in Durango for 17 years, I have strongly supported Mercy, believing a successful community hospital is vital to my patients and our community.
The recent decision by Centura Health not to negotiate with the local community group, Southwest Health Alliance, was an enormous disappointment. It destroys the unique opportunity for small businesses and individuals to combine our purchasing power to bring down the cost of health insurance.
Health care statutory changes now permit this. Other communities have successfully lowered insurance premiums. Now, this unique opportunity may disappear if we are unable to inspire our local Mercy leaders to reconsider.
Centura’s view, advertised in the Herald, seemingly in response to recent local efforts, that they are working in other ways to reduce costs, is admirable. The justifications they give for not supporting a local health plan are not.
Centura suggests that rate reductions do not always reduce premiums. But sometimes, as in Summit County, when the community negotiated lower rates with Centura, insurance premiums were reduced by 20%, a great first step.
Contending that third-party solutions limit consumers choices confuses the fact that SWHA is local and homegrown, composed of regional citizens, overseeing the negotiations/choices otherwise done by large, distant insurance companies.
Leveraging the power of community members to negotiate prices with providers, including the local hospital, can bring down the cost we are all paying for health insurance.
This is still a real possibility, if only Mercy and Centura will reconsider.
Jay CiottiDurango
