http://nwi.com/articles/2008/08/01/news ... 0e6b56.txt
#1 "You are exporting your higher profitable services, in large part to Illinois," Roob said.
#2 Brown, who has backed the creation of a teaching hospital and trauma center in Gary, either of which would lend status to local hospitals, said the lack of a trauma center "is devastating to all of Northwest Indiana."
Two very good points! People used to want to come to Gary Methodist. Not so attractive now with gun fire outside all too frequently. So we're again back to problems officials refuse to address citywide.
But the teaching hospital idea has some real promise. The big downside is that even teaching hospitals need money to run.
It's quite obvious that Gary's hospital is suffering because those who use it can't pay and those who can pay don't use it. Here's a radical idea I just want to toss out there. Why not make a city ordinance that everybody working over 20 hours has to either have a medical plan with their employer or else opt in to a city privately run basic coverage plan written with a major insurer. You could even put city employees in the plan with better and optional coverages to grow the pool. This plus a safe security zone surrounding the hospital and major roads with access to the hospital to create a safer environment. Then as the facility becomes more accepted perhaps create a specialty area such as burn trauma, infectious diseases, or maybe even geriatrics with specialization in serving to poorest of the poor.
I have long advocated at least minimal healthcare coverage for low income workers and while some may argue against mandatory regulation of any benefit provision consider the range of the problem. No healthcare plan today means that taxpayers will be picking up the tab. So doesn't it make better sense that a worker and employer contribute at least 50/ 50 towards this ever increasing cost rather than taxpayers?
And while I'm on the general subject a thought just struck me. I get these offers left & right from banks and credit card companies to accept $1,000 in free term life. Seems to me that it should be possible for an employer to at least secure a low level term life plan. I'm sure my bank isn't eating a tremendous cost just to offer it to me as a free benefit!