Will Obama save our rural hospital: Sunday's vote looks to pass

I got on the Internet late today and found there is definitely hope that President Obama will have success or whatever you want to call it, he will have accomplished his goal of passing a healthcare reform bill.

What I find sad is that had he passed a bill "eliminating" earmarks and the pork from the barrel, which would have been a big seller, LOL, had he done that first, it would make sense then to push through a bill that is not "finished" or polished.

It's a huge economic change, people forced to buy insurance, 95 million new customers under the age of 65, and another stimulus to the medicare recipients with a deal made with the pharmaceutical companies in advance for paying for millions worth of advertising to back the bill.

(In bed with the drug dealers calling the insurance companies the whores, excuse my language.)

A month ago two board members from the Kern Valley Healthcare District, the CEO, Tim McGlew, Chet Beedle Financial engineer (choo choo), had a meeting about a potential general obligation bond. The meeting was closed to the public and not all board members attended, although, it would seem this meeting may be crossing the line into a "serial meeting" as outlined in the Brown Act.

It also was not open to the public, no response was offered by the Tim McGlew or former CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, regarding the full extent of the meeting.

The meeting was about money and how this hospital will survive the economic woes it is currently experiencing.

Some members have discussed bankruptcy which is unpopular with Beedle and McGlew, as we are encumbered with debt in the form of revenue bonds,
which could make the bankruptcy shaky as the state of California (you know that lovely place that has ruined itself financially) insures this debt out of a quaint little office, called "Cal Mtg."

Both Beedle and McGlew are familiar with Cal Mtg. as Beedle joined KVHD when Cal Mtg. seized the hospital which was flailing under a financial burden they could have actually, if the correct decisions were made, could have made this hospital the Taj Mahal.

Had the bond money created the full plan, this hospital would be a whole new building, with updated tech stuff, plenty of services to keep the valley happy. But some board members, such as Brad Armstrong, sat by while we were ripped off by contractors who never finished the job.

Then Cal Mtg. gave us more money so we could still not finish the job, now just owe nine more million dollars. Bravo.

So, now today, on the very night President Obama has won the first round: don't forget elephants don't forget, and there will likely be another vote before this all over. But it could happen and if it does...

Would we need that increase in property taxes in the valley to sustain the hospital?

But first thing that hit me was the new bill will put an explosive amount of people right into the system. How will that change things? Fast, is what I say. People who weren't going to the doctor will be now.

And spanking the insurance companies for not covering certain tests, treatments, and better cruises for the doctors, will most certainly bring about more business: right here in the valley.

(And what is more business called: volume. Oh yeah, that was Beedle's idea. Here's your nickel for that advice)

Here at the rural Kern Valley Healthcare District, our financial advisor, Chet Beedle, has been saying for a few months that the financial problems happening are caused by the fact that 40% of the people treated here don't have insurance.

Some are able to qualify for state and federal charity programs, but are resistant to do so and therefore being called the problem itself. The burden is the customer of the hospital who doesn't fill out forms to help the hospital get paid.

You see this is new, because it has always averaged 10%, and now we're being shaken by this huge figure of almost half of the people who come to the hospital are not insured or capable of paying or even willing to fill out a few forms making themselves fall into the "indigent" pile. (Bad, bad, customers. Hospital's great though, they wait three years to send bills for $8. Thank the heaven's nobody pays attention to this hospital, because you couldn't pass this hypocrisy off on anyone with a brain.)

Now, if these people are suddenly able to get insurance because Obama commands it, sustain the payments, would our 40% figure drop to a normal amount such as 10% and or even below? Thereby loosing us from having to do any of the things the community would love, like higher property taxes, or sky high sales taxes, or a bankruptcy?

There's too much not to floating around we need to wait and see how it all lands, but we will follow the hospital closely as there are many questions right now that must be answered.

But if we are someone relieved of the huge financial burden, it's time for a change at KVHD. It's been a chronic problem, when do we actually fix this, and quit hiding in the back rooms from the public, or I should say me.

(Just a little side story here, I found out from a reliable source recently that there is a nice gentlemen in maintanence that plays two roles at the hospital: first he does his job, then he attends board meetings. His job at the board meetings is me. From now on we sit together and I get pictures of him for my family and maybe a cheap frame. See you soon. And thanks to whomever thought that one up. Oh, we are going to have so much fun, I can't wait.)

(And when we finally get some sanity back or started, please, can we start from the top and move down this time?)

Just as a final thought, there is word on the street that Chet Beedle who has a residence out of the area, and has been using our KVHD rental units free of charge for the last ten years, is suddenly paying a few bucks a day.

Question: is that his only contribution? Tracy Brown and her employees used the apartments; traveling staff used the apartments; Tim McGlew used it while he house hunted; former CEO, Rick Carter, had a place; can anyone tell me what is wrong with this picture? Test at next board meeting.

Here's my latest Obama camp email for you to peruse; I'm on all the lists:
For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.This is what change looks like.My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.Thank you,President Barack Obama