The Dougherty Count Commission is scared, and they should be. With Cooper Tire shutting down, the remaining local industries are even more important to the Albany economy. Masterfoods (formerly M&M/Mars), and Proctor & Gamble are just two. Now, P&G is making noises about relocating elsewhere, and the Commission is nervous.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much they can do.
For years now, P&G has lamented the astronomical cost of health care here in the Albany area. In fact, that’s been their primary issue. So, while the Dougherty County Commission scrambles to work out tax credits for P&G, there is more that needs to be done. It’s just to bad that the County Commission doesn’t have the authority to do it.
You see, the primary culprit in the cost of health care is Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, an alleged non-profit hospital who operates scarily similar to large for-profit facilities. Their attacks on nearby hospital Palmyra’s ability to offer competing services wouldn’t be tolerated in any other sector of industry, so why health care? This lack of competition is the reason why health care costs so much in Southwest Georgia, and a significant hurdle to overcome in regards to P&G.
If there is real hope to keep P&G in Albany, it’s going to require something we’ve never seen before. Phoebe stepping back and realizing they are charging far to much for health care and cutting back on the brass plated elevators and executive trips to England. Cut the cost of health care and keep Proctor & Gamble here.
That’s to say nothing of other benefits.
If the cost of health care is enough to drive out a long time industry like P&G, what is the possible impact on new industry? They look at numbers and ultimately health care may be a bigger factor in their decisions to located elsewhere than anything else, possibly even crime.
Now, I don’t believe that the government needs to step in and solve the situation. Instead, I call on Phoebe to do the right thing all on their own and curb the extravagences and silly projects that has been the hallmark of Phoebe for some time now and do what’s best for the community.
Cutting of healthcare costs may seem like a bad thing for you now, but with more industries coming to town, more people will be working good jobs with benefits. You’ll put out less money toward indigent folks, because more people can pay if they’re working (and yes, Phoebe does help a lot of indigent people every year). In short order, you’ll be able to afford all those extragences again as well as provide quality health care at an affordable rate.
If you can’t do that Phoebe, then maybe it’s time to back off and let Palmyra (a for-profit hospital) handle it. They seem eager enough, so let them compete with you and maybe take some of the burden off of you. After all, brass elevators require a lot of upkeep I imagine.
Is Jeff Sinyard (essentially a tool of Phoebe Putney, Ken Hodges, etc) really to be trusted to handle this issue?
Whether Sinyard is a tool of Phoebe or not, and I have no evidence saying he is, it’s irrelevant. There’s not really anything that the Commission could do to curb what Phoebe charges. The local commissions, to my knowledge, have no authority to set price controls or any other measure that would bring Phoebe in line. Frankly, even if they do, it’s not the right thing to do. The right thing is to let Palmyra compete and let the market work as it’s intended.
Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening.
It is well known that Sinyard has extensive business connections with Phoebe.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=4855547
When did the county stop paying for indigent care? I remember they used to pay $2 million a year or so. Is this one way Phoebe pressures the county to vote their way?
Jack: I’ll admit that it doesn’t look good (and I can’t say you’re right without more…even if I may think it) , and I’ll be the first to question those ties when it comes time for a decision directly related to Phoebe, but as I said earlier there’s not really anything the Count Commission can or should do regarding Phoebe in this instance. Phoebe is ultimately a private entity that the County should have no involvement in.
Donna: I seem to remember that the County stopped giving that money years ago, but maybe I’m remembering wrong? I haven’t had a chance to look it up just yet. Frankly, the County doesn’t need to send that money to Phoebe mainly because Phoebe doesn’t need it. However, I’m pretty sure that Phoebe does provide more than $2 million in indigent care though.
I know that Phoebe has “strongly encouraged” certain political actions from their employees in the past, and as one of the largest employers that can be some significant pressure for any local elected official. They don’t require it, but they present things so the politically unsophisticated think they need to. Not illegal, but still wrong.
Actually, Phoebe went through a period of years where they gave the funds back to the county (along with much pomp and circumstance). Ultimately, Phoebe simply agreed to not even take the monies for indigent care. It was all a PR ploy.