'Just Say No Political Action Committee' explained

I am President of the Just Say No Political Action Committee (PAC). Some folks in town believe that we are opposed to a new hospital. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every member of our PAC thinks that our county needs adequate health care. We are opposed to a special use District; because the recent developments in Washakie and Fremont Counties demonstrate that there are other business models available to provide quality health care without taxation.

We have a management model in place that has not worked, is not working now and will not work in the future. Fremont County has two hospitals that have been privatized with Sage West. Washakie County has entered into a business agreement with Banner health to manage the Worland hospital. Banner is in the process of constructing a new $23.5 million hospital expansion, including state of the art equipment. While these two examples represent different business models, they are similar in that neither of them is taxing local residents to support hospital health care. I repeat - Fremont and Washakie Counties do not tax their residents for health care. These are only two examples; there are other health care business models that work effectively without taxation.

Our group has recommended several times that additional business models need to be thoroughly analyzed. I and another member of our PAC have attended nearly all HSCMH Board meetings since August 2014. There has not been a single serious discussion of other business models or potential collaboration with other regional health care providers at those Board meetings. Why? What are our County Commissioners and HSCMH Board members doing? I know from personal meetings that Banner Health would like to begin discussions with us to explore collaborative alternatives, including possibly building and running a new hospital here in Thermopolis. Likewise Sage West of Fremont County has indicated that they would be willing to explore being the health care provider here in Thermopolis.

For whatever reason, it seems to me that the “good ‘ol boy network” here does not want to explore other business alternatives. That is not the Wyoming way. The Wyoming way is to explore all options and then choose from among the best course of action; and this should be done with full disclosure so that all residents can be informed.

Respectfully submitted,

Harry Hughes, PE