Government intervention in health care, WV style (Martinsburg, War: to buy, construction)

[clintsullivan]

War Memorial construction delayed - journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg - The Journal

I have followed the progress of the hospital loosely as it can affect my work as an appraiser and since I have considered a move to that area in Morgan County.
I have learned something new from this article. I never knew that there was such an entity as "Certificate of Need Division of the State Health Care Authority" and that this would be used by WVU Health to prevent Valley from building the hospital alone. It also is interesting that Valley claims WVU wanted not top name billing, but to be the only name on the door in a joint venture. WVU H E somehow missed out on the new hospital so they go to the power of the government to get what they want. So much for free enterprise.

The sad thing is either way it negatively affects the folks who will be the users of the services both in delay & quality. I and my family have had numerous experiences with Jeff Mem, Mtsbg City & Winch Med. Given the choice, there is no choice, Winchester Medical exceeds quality of care of any of the others.
Clint

[Hinton Bound]

Originally Posted by clintsullivan

...so they go to the power of the government to get what they want. So much for free enterprise.

Why should they ask, when the government can force?

"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

[bballjunkie]

Certificate of need has been a requirement for many years. It was initiated to hold down health care costs (notice I said initiated). It was supposed to prevent 'duplication of services' so all medical facilities didn't have to buy all the expensive equipment or bring in all the expensive specialists to different locations.

Personally, I think if the sun set on the Health Care Cost Authority, it wouldn't be missed as I don't think it has accomplished anything that it was intended to accomplish.

[Threerun]

Valley Healthcare is waaaaay better than what is provided in the EP. The state should take a long hard look at the migration of health services from the EP to other areas and take heed. It's another lost opportunity, really. Valley Health would serve to create competition in a field that we need competition in.

If I lived in Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson or Hampshire County, Winchester VA would be the only place I would take myself or my family too. Period.